A man whose friend died after he slipped 27 anti-depressant tablets into his beer "as a joke" has today been jailed for five years.

Lee Webster was sentenced to four-and-a-half years for the manslaughter of dwarf Jason Wood and six months consecutive for perverting the course of justice by getting rid of the Mirtazapine pill bottle.

He had denied manslaughter, but was convicted in less than an hour by a jury of nine men and three women yesterday.

The 26-year-old father of two and housemate Steve McNamara, 29, both admitted perverting the course of justice.

McNamara was sentenced to six months and, because of time spent on remand, was due to be released immediately.

Judge Philip Statman told Webster: "Jason Wood was a comparatively young man and his life was tragically cut short. You were his friend.

"Nobody suggests for one moment you had any desire to end his life. At the time you were an experienced user of the prescribed Mirtazapine. You placed 27 tablets in his beer. It seemed almost as if it was a joke to you at the time.

"You knew what the effects of Mirtazapine were as a regular user of the drug. You knew the effect of one single tablet in so far as it causes drowsiness.

"You would be aware there is a warning. You don't take that drug with alcohol and you don't share prescribed drugs with anybody else."

Mr Wood, 30, died within about three hours of swallowing the pills putting into his beer can during a heavy drinking session.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the combination of the pills, alcohol and sleep apnoea - which could cause Mr Wood to stop breathing - probably led to his death.

He had been drinking for a few days with Mr Webster and McNamara at a house in Camden Square, Ramsgate.

The victim, who was 4ft tall and weighed just six stone, was found slumped in an armchair by another housemate, Ian Sherringham, on the morning of October 22 last year.

He was declared dead at the scene. His alcohol level was later found to be almost three times the legal driving limit.

Police found out about the tablets because of admissions Webster made to others after Mr Wood's death and through tests carried out on the body.

"Jason Wood was a comparatively young man and his life was tragically cut short. You were his friend..." - Judge Philip Statman

Webster confessed to his father Stephen Allen on November 17 he had put the tablets in Mr Wood's beer and "may have accidentally killed him".

He also told his sister Stephanie he did it, saying he thought it would be a laugh.

Mr Wood's sister Tracey West, also a dwarf, wanted to find out more and added Webster as a Facebook friend.

He told her in a message: "Tracey, I am so sorry. I put 27 of my Mirtazapine tablets into Jason's beer that night."

"We all had too much to drink," he said. "I picked up the Metazepam (sic) bottle and basically turned round and said to Steve: 'Look, shall we do this as a joke?' and, like, put the tablets into like his can of beer.Webster, of Harmer Street, Gravesend, said in police in interviews he had acted "in a mad, crazy, drunken moment" as a joke when he put the tablets into the beer can.

"Steve said 'Yeah', so I put the tablets into his can of beer and it started frothing up and, like, we sat there and laughed about it.

"Then Jason's come up from the toilet, basically picked up his beer and started drinking it and said it tasted funny. Then me and Steve both turned around and told him: 'It's alright, just drink it.'"

He claimed he had previously taken 14 or 15 of the tablets and they just made him go to sleep. He did not realise they could kill.

Webster, who did not give evidence at his trial, added: "I feel bad and I feel guilty for what I have done, because at the end of the day Jason was my friend and I didn't mean to kill him. It was just something stupid when we was all drunk and got too out of control."

Oliver Saxby QC, defending, said Mirtzapine was essentially safe in overdose and not lethal in the same way as heroin.

Webster had consumed "enormous amounts" of the anti-depressant in one go, he said.

"He had seriously overdosed on it and survived, so in his mind it was not a particularly dangerous drug," said Mr Saxby.

Webster's conscience got the better of him within a month or so of administering the pills. He took an overdose himself and was admitted to hospital. He then began to think about the consequences of what he had done.

"He didn't have the courage to carry through admissions he made from the outset," said Mr Saxby. "He didn't want to go into the witness box and lie. There was a trial issue on the question of causation."

The QC added: "These were three friends who were under the influence of alcohol and there was some messing about here."

A statement released by Mr Wood's family after the verdict said: "The family of Jason Wood are pleased that a verdict has been reached.

"The past seven months have been very difficult for the family. Knowing that justice has been served will help to give us peace.

"Jason was a happy, caring and fun-loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend to many. He is sadly missed by all.

"We would like to thank everyone who has supported us over this very difficult time."