A father-of-six who robbed a woman of drugs shortly before a dealer was knifed to death in the street has walked free.

Trevor Brown had been convicted of the manslaughter of Alistair Maddison and robbing Stevie-Anne Stacey and was handed an indeterminate jail sentence.

The manslaughter conviction was overturned in the Appeal Court in June and the robbery charge was sent back to Maidstone Crown Court for retrial.

But the 31-year-old pleaded guilty after a judge indicated he would pass a sentence which would allow his freedom.

Brown, of Brookmead Road, Rochester, had served on remand the equivalent of more than the five-year term imposed.

His co-accused Alan Sykes, 26, of Johnson Avenue, Gillingham, was jailed for life with a 20-year tariff after being convicted of murder. He admitted robbery.

Mr Maddison had left his home in Mills Terrace, Chatham, with Miss Stacey in March 2006 to supply crack cocaine to Brown and Sykes.

When they met up, Sykes put a knife to Miss Stacey’s throat and ordered her to hand over the drug. She got away but Mr Maddison was attacked and left bleeding to death.

Philip St John-Stevens, prosecuting, said he argued in the Appeal Court that both the manslaughter and robbery charges should be retried. But the appeal judges disagreed and ordered that the manslaughter conviction be quashed.

Judge Andrew Patience, QC, told Brown the five-year sentence would enable his release almost immediately.

"You have the opportunity to go back to life with your partner and children," he said. "It is not only the beginning of your future, it must be the end of your criminal past."