A MAN whose single punch outside a block of flats led to the death of a father has been jailed for manslaughter.

Hamaad Sultan, 21, of Sunbridge Road, Bradford, was sentenced to four years for causing the death of Joseph Mate, 35, on January 31 this year.

Bradford Crown Court heard how while leaving Summer Berry Residences in Sunbridge Road, Mr Mate used a racial slur towards Sultan, who was standing by reception talking to friends.

Sultan, a former security guard and resident at the flats, then followed Mr Mate outside, before shouting “Oi, do you remember me?”.

Mr Mate turned round, and Sultan delivered a right hook to his head, knocking him unconscious and causing him to fall backwards down a flight of concrete steps.

Mr Mate hit his head against the concrete floor, causing catastrophic skull and brain injuries, and he died at Leeds General Infirmary on February 4.

Christopher Smith, prosecuting, described how there had been ongoing insults between the two when Sultan worked as a security guard.

He said Sultan told police it was a punch in anger and he did not intend to use so much force.

He said: “Sultan approached and struck him with two blows, the first a right hook which knocked him unconscious, and the second was delivered as he was falling, but it was the first blow that was the critical one.

“Joseph is unable to break his fall and his head strikes the steps. Sultan then walked inside and said, ‘That shows I’m not a pussy’.”

Sultan went back outside to look at Mr Mate, before going back inside, and then left the scene at the suggestion of someone else. When he heard police were looking for him, Sultan handed himself into police and admitted punching Mr Mate the next morning.

CCTV footage of the punch was shown in court, and watched by members of Mr Mate’s family.

Sultan sat in the dock with his head bowed throughout the duration of the hearing.

Khadim Al Hassan, mitigating, said: “The consequences of Sultan’s actions that day will live forever with the deceased’s family and with him.

“He was genuinely sorry for his actions and handed himself in to police, and has to live with this for the rest of his life. This is genuine remorse, the defendant is the carer for his mother and he has always been there for her.”

Victim impact statements were read on behalf of Mr Mate’s family by Mr Smith. His 10-year-old son said his father “was his hero” and they used to play football together, but now he “has not much more than memories and photos”, and Sultan has “taken his dad away”.

Mr Smith said the three days beside Mr Mate’s deathbed were “torture” for his mother, Rosemary Mate-Hawksby, and “not a second goes by she does not think about him”.

Sentencing Sultan, the Recorder of Bradford Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC said: “This tragedy arose because of the interaction between two good people. Joseph Mate was a good man, and Sultan has good character and no previous convictions.

“Yet again this is a case of one man punching another with the result of a fall and heavy impact with the ground.

“This occurred because of your loss of temper. It’s clear there had been some tension, words were used which may have upset you but you had sensibly ignored in the past.

“On this occasion you took real issue with that and followed him outside and delivered a blow of some force.

“You could not have chosen a worse blow or location at the top of a flight of concrete steps. You intended that blow to a defenceless man to have consequences, but not of this scale.

“It was the blow of a boxer, your follow through took you down the stair too, and there was no real provocation, it was a passing remark.

“You surrendered to police and your remorse is self-evident. We have heard unspeakable sorrow from Joseph’s family, and he leaves a son who worshipped his father.

“You will live with his for the rest of your life, but at least you have your life. This wanton taking of a life is not to be understated.”

Mr Mate’s family issued a statement following the hearing, which said: “The Mate family would like the whole world to know that no amount of apology will ever erase the pain we are feeling now, and worse still, the pain we have felt since January 31 when Sultan attacked Joseph, affectionately known as JJ. That attack was unprovoked, Hamaad killed JJ.

“Hamaad will serve a four-year sentence. He will come out and continue to live his life after prison, what about our JJ? He is gone for good! To us as a family, we are serving a life sentence since January 31.

“We had plans, dreams, and many, many things we were looking forward to doing with JJ which were brought to a screeching halt. JJ’s son is turning 11 in November and has been robbed of a bright future with his father whom he loved and adored. No 11-year-old deserves that.

"Up until now, we have not been given any logical reason why JJ was attacked and had to die in such a painful way. It is not possible for law enforcement to prove all actions beyond reasonable doubt, only Hamaad could enlighten us on why he decided to hurt our JJ. The only explanation that we got from the police is that Hamaad said that he just felt like fighting and that he had nothing to lose as he had no job. Does that make sense?

“Reasonable adults resolve their issues amicably, they do not ambush and kill. Hamaad can say what he wants to say but only he himself knows in his heart of hearts what happened on January 31. Your conscience will give you the sentence you deserve.”