Violent coward killed elderly man in sickening one-punch attack, tried to run away and then lied to police

A violent thug who killed an elderly man with one punch after the 78-year-old had remonstrated with him for cycling on the pavement has been jailed.

Nathan Pilling, 24, was riding at speed along the pedestrian area on Market Street in Bury town centre last year when Michael Dawson shouted over to him. The masked Pilling swerved over to him before dismounting his bike.

Minutes later he punched Mr Dawson in the face with such force that he fell to the ground, hitting his head. He died after suffering a fracture to his skull and a bleed on the brain, Manchester Crown Court heard.

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Pilling, of Bury, admitted manslaughter and was jailed for five years and four months.

Francis McEntee, prosecuting, said that on the evening of August 24 last year, Mr Dawson had a few pints of John Smiths beer and sang some karaoke songs before leaving the Bank pub on Market Street at around 11.50pm.

Staff described him as ‘happy and good natured’ throughout the evening.

“It will become apparent that Mr Dawson appears to have the temerity to shout something to the defendant who is cycling along the street, which consists of something about cycling on a footpath,” Mr McEntee told the court.

“The defendant’s immediate reaction is to swerve across the road, leaning his bicycle against the railing and stand in front of Mr Dawson in, we say, an imposing and aggressive manner. This was a younger man standing over an older man.

“The CCTV footage records the defendant on at least two occasions stepping away from Mr Dawson before returning a second time, at which he delivers the clear punch which laid out the 78-year-old.”

In a basis of plea, Pilling said Mr Dawson remonstrated with him in an ‘animated fashion’ and said he felt ‘under threat’ from the elderly man.

A member of the public was stood outside the pub having a cigarette when he saw the two men together. He saw Pilling out of the corner of his eye making a ‘movement’ before Mr Dawson fell to the floor.

He also heard the sound of the older man's head hitting the pavement, it was said.

Pilling immediately got onto his bike and attempted to flee but was temporarily detained by two members of the public who ran after him. He managed to escape but was later arrested.

When he first spoke to the police he lied, saying: “Someone took my bike and hit me in the chest so I hit him back.”

Mr Dawson was rushed to hospital with swelling to the back of his head. It was later discovered that he had a fracture to his skull and a bleed on the brain.

He was admitted into the intensive care unit, but sadly deteriorated further and his life support machine was switched off on September 4. A post mortem report concluded that his cause of death was head trauma accelerated from a fall as a result of an assault to the face.

CCTV footage of the attack was played to the packed out courtroom. In it Mr Dawson can be seen to point over at Pilling who appears to ride at speed down the pavement on the opposite side. Pilling then rides over to him and dismounts, and can be seen wearing a balaclava.

He briefly turns away from Mr Dawson as they appear to be talking before Pilling punches him to the face.

'Should the elderly have to stay inside to avoid being attacked in the street? Should they stay at home for fear a 23-year-old coward should attack them?'

In an emotional victim personal statement, Mr Dawson’s granddaughter, Natasha Fisch, said: “I’ve written this letter a million times in my head wanting to address the court on behalf of my wonderful grandad. Everything I have written doesn’t seem to do my grandad justice.

“My grandad was the most wonderful person I have ever known. Grandad, or Gramps, was the father I never had.

“He was a good man with a big heart, he was generous, cared for others and went out of his way to help a stranger in need. The idea that someone so kind, gentle and caring would be on the receiving end of such violence and aggression is sickening and inexcusable.

“Should the elderly have to stay inside to avoid being attacked in the street? Should they stay at home for fear of a 23-year-old coward should attack them?

“I feel like a piece of my heart is missing. The circumstances of his death makes my soul feel tortured. If I could have swapped places with him, I would have.

“The one person I could talk to about all this is Gramps. I never got to say goodbye.”

Another granddaughter of Mr Dawson, Monica Fisch said: “Being here today has been quite distressing, and watching the clip of the attack made me feel helpless. I wanted to tell him that everything was going to be OK and that he wasn’t alone.”

'He left us with a tear in his eye'

And Mr Dawson’s daughter, Jennifer Fisch said: “How can an innocent man’s life be taken away by the hands of another? I can’t comprehend it, and I do not think I ever will.

“He was the most gentle, genuine, caring man with a sense of humour that had us crying with laughter. He was just the greatest dad and grandad.

“Since his death I often drive to his house and wait for the light to come on. I tell myself that he is just out on one of his walking holidays - this is what I’ve been telling myself since.

“My last memory of my father was seeing him with all these tubes in hospital and watching him take his last breath and listening to his favourite song - Candle in the Wind by Elton John. He left us with a tear in his eye.”

Katy Appleton, mitigating, said Pilling did not intend to cause the harm and that he ‘overreacted’. She said he was removed from his mother’s care due to an abusive relationship and had a difficult background.

“He expresses remorse and regret and has demonstrated victim empathy - he clearly feels guilt,” she said.

'It’s right to observe that in reality, Mr Dawson posed no threat to you at all'

Sentencing, Judge Tina Landale said: “Having left the public house, Mr Dawson noticed you cycling on the path and pedestrian area and shouted something over to you. You swerved over towards him and confronted him.

“There was no need for you to do so. Even after dismounting and approaching him, you had the opportunity to walk away. Instead you punched him to his face so forcefully that you knocked him to the ground.

“It’s right to observe that in reality, Mr Dawson posed no threat to you at all. The whole situation from the start to the tragic end was created by your antisocial and criminal actions.”

The senior police investigating officer on the case, Phillip Reade, added: “This was a completely unprovoked attack which sadly took the life of a gentleman who was just enjoying a night out. I am extremely grateful to those members of the public who came to Michael’s aid and helped to detain Pilling.

"It is very clear that Michael was a much loved family man and very popular who will be missed by so many. We have zero tolerance against violence and will do everything we can to make sure the instigators are taken off the streets and placed before the courts.”

Pilling, of Deal Street, will serve two thirds of his sentence in prison before being released on licence.