Millwall fan jailed after death of victim

A Millwall football supporter who had charges of manslaughter against him dropped has been jailed for two years after punching a rival fan who later died.

Andrew Lewis pleaded guilty to inflicting grievous bodily harm on 56-year-old Nottingham Forest fan Paul O’Donnell in a car park outside Nottingham’s City Ground.

The 50-year-old had drunk seven pints of lager before the Friday night fixture on August 4 and said he used violence against Mr O’Donnell because he was saying “West Ham” at him.

Leicester Crown Court heard how the victim

“Entirely unnecessary as well as aggressive”

suffered a skull fracture and bleeding on the brain as a result of the “entirely unnecessary as well as aggressive blow”.

Mr O’Donnell was found in a critical condition two weeks later at his house in Newark, Nottinghamshire, after falling down the stairs, and was pronounced dead in hospital on August 24.

Prosecutor Miranda Moore QC told the court doctors could not definitively say the injuries caused by Lewis were directly responsible for Mr O’Donnell’s death.

As a result, she said no evidence would be offered on the manslaughter charge and Judge Gregory Dickinson QC said he would be directing a not guilty verdict.

Ms Moore said Mr O’Donnell suffered from memory loss and severe headaches when he was released from hospital after the initial attack.

Lewis, of Bromley, south London, was jailed yesterday after admitting one count of causing grievous bodily harm at a previous hearing.