A teenage killer, who took the life of a dad-of-five with a single punch, has received a sentence of less than four years.

John Gibbs, now 19, felled victim Andrew Looseley "like a tree" before fleeing the scene outside the Hare and Hounds Pub in Lower Boxley Road, Maidstone.

Mr Loosely was knocked unconscious on his feet before falling backwards striking his head and died days later without recovering, Maidstone Crown Court heard.

Now Gibbs, of Nickley Woods in Shadoxhurst, near Ashford, has been sent to a young offenders institute for three years and eight months and will miss the birth of his first child in April.

He had admitted a charge of manslaughter at an earlier hearing and will be released after serving 22 months.

Prosecutor Ian Hope said the fatal blow was caught on CCTV footage and shown to the packed court.

He said the incident happened on August 20 last year when 47 year old Mr Looseley - the captain of the Hare and Hounds Pool team - was "play-fighting' with a friend of Gibbs', Luke Wright.

"They had been playing pool together and Mr Looseley put Mr Wright in a headlock. Luke wanted a fight and urged Mr Looseley to go outside.

"It is clear from the CCTV there was an aggressive altercation which resulted in all parties going outside and into the street."

The prosecutor said the victim later returned to the pub but "unfortunately" went outside again.

The pub landlord later stood between them acting as a peacemaker.

"The defendant wasn't involved and at more than one point can be seen on the CCTV putting his hand out preventing Luke from moving closer to the victim.

"However, one eye witness says that Gibbs did offer to be a referee as Mr Wright and Mr Looseley square up to one another.

"The defendant then moved forward and as the landlord was trying to keep order, Gibbs threw a very powerful punch into Mr Looseley's face, " he added.

The Chatham father's hands were down at the time and the blow immediately knocked him out on his feet and he lost consciousness.

"He fell directly to the floor, like a felled tree,with the blow coming out of the blue.

He sustained a fractured skull and brain damage and never recovered, " added Mr Hope.

Gibbs then fled the scene, leaving passers by to help the stricken victim who was taken to a London hospital but died days later.

The victim's mother, Marian said in her victim impact statement that Kev was a happy lad who had four daughters and a son and loved cars and playing pool.

"I feel my son's death was completely unnecessary. I will never understand what made Gibbs punch Kevin that night," she said.

"He has taken not only my son away from me but also taken the father away from his five children... all I'd like to know is why?

"Although I know I might never get an answer to this question."

"This was a tragic incident following a needless altercation in a town centre pub..."

Danny Moore, defending, said that Gibbs was "very, very sorry and wishes to apologise."

Judge Philip Statman said this was known as a "one punch manslaughter" and he rejected any claim that Gibbs had been acting in self-defence to protect his pregnant girlfriend, who was also present.

"A life has been taken and there are absolutely no words of comfort or support I can give to diminish the suffering of the family."

Detective Constable Kirsty Gee, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: "This was a tragic incident following a needless altercation in a town centre pub.

"A family are now mourning their loss and a young man is starting a prison sentence.

"I would like to commend those who provided first aid for the victim in an attempt to save his life and the witnesses and others who assisted us throughout our investigation."