Romford: Man Jailed After Pub Attack

17 September 2013, 17:39 | Updated: 17 September 2013, 17:45

A Brentwood man has been jailed for four years after being convicted of killing a man with a single punch outside a pub in Romford.

Sean Boggans, 30, of Ongar Road, Brentwood, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of the manslaughter of Shaun McDermott

Shaun, 44, an electrician who lived with his partner in Benhurst Avenue, Elm Park. The couple didn't have any children.

At 0116hrs on Sunday 3 February 2013, borough officers on routine patrol discovered Shaun lying on the pavement outside the Havering Oak public house in South Street, Romford.

Shaun was taken by ambulance to Queen's Hospital where he died at around 1000hrs the following day. A post-mortem examination gave cause of death as head injuries.

An investigation was launched by detectives from the Homicide & Major Crime Command, led by Detective Chief Inspector John Sandlin.

DCI Sandlin said: "Shaun McDermott had been in the Wheatsheaf pub nearby with two of his sisters, while Sean Boggans had been at a private party in the Havering Oak.

"Boggans called a cab at around 0030hrs and, after it was delayed, he was waiting outside the Havering Oak with his friends.

"Meanwhile, Shaun had gone to the same location to meet his partner, Wendy Whittle, who was driving there to pick him up.

"Boggans, possibly frustrated by the wait for his taxi and in the mistaken belief that Shaun was also trying to get a cab, remonstrated with Shaun and subsequently threw a punch which caused Shaun to fall to the floor and hit his head.

"It was a wholly unnecessary, violent act which caused Shaun to sustain a fatal head injury."

Police enquiries led to the arrest of Sean Boggans on 5 February. He was charged with manslaughter and appeared at Redbridge Magistrates' Court on 7 February.