Man sentenced for killing brother in drunken fight
A man has been jailed after killing his brother with a single punch in a drunken fight at a motocross event last year.
Ben Starr, 34, of Woodside Avenue in Derbyshire, previously admitted to the manslaughter of Lee Starr in a fight at Foxhill motocross track, in Swindon, in August last year.
Lee, who was 38 years old, suffered a fatal head injury and later died in hospital.
Starr was sentenced to two years in prison at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.
More news stories for Wiltshire
Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Lee's wife Jaye Starr said: "Lee was cruelly and senselessly taken from me and our children."
On 22 August 2024, their father and their own children witnessed Lee punch Starr twice before both men ended up on the ground, with Starr restraining his brother.
They were forced apart by onlookers and a further punch from Starr to Lee proved fatal, as he collapsed on the floor while walking away from his serious injuries. Lee died days later in Southmead Hospital.
The court heard both argued with each other in the past, but Starr said he loved Lee and would often go to him for advice.
The fight was witnessed by Lee's 13-year-old son, the court was told.
Ms Starr said: "I never imagined I would be forced to put into words the unbearable grief that now defines our lives.
"We had a future full of hope, love and dreams together.
"But that future was stolen from us in horrific moment, and now every single day is a fight just to keep going without him."
Sam Jones, defence, said: "This case was a tragedy on both sides.
"Ben will have to live with the consequences of his actions for the rest of his life."
Mr Jones called for a suspended sentence as Starr has no previous convictions, and he showed "remorse".
However His Honour Judge Blair KC chose to sentence Starr to two years in prison.
"Nothing about this case can be described as anything but tragic," he said.
Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
Man dies after assault at Foxhill motocross event
Arrest after life-threatening assault at motocross event
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Global ticket touting operations exposed ahead of major UK gigs such as Oasis
As Cardiff gears up for a summer filled with top music acts, an investigation by BBC Cymru Wales has uncovered major ticket touting operations across the world. Reporter Steffan Powell delves into the shadowy realm of ticket touts in the upcoming programme 'The Great Ticket Rip-Off', which aired on BBC One Wales tonight (Thursday, June 26). The show uncovers how ticket touts are utilising vast networks of individuals abroad, dubbed "ticket pullers", to mass-purchase tickets for big UK gigs such as Oasis and Taylor Swift the moment they're available, aiming to resell them at hiked up prices. The BBC's investigation claimed that these ticket pullers may employ illegal automated software and multiple identities to acquire tickets, potentially constituting fraud. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. READ MORE: Air India crash investigators reveal new breakthrough theory on cause of tragedy READ MORE: Foreign Office updates travel advice for countries popular with UK tourists including Dubai This revelation comes just as Oasis is about to kick off their reunion tour in Cardiff's Principality Stadium on July 4. Last summer, many fans of the Gallagher brothers were frustrated as they were left empty-handed after enduring long online queues without securing tickets for the sold-out tour. You can read more about fan struggles here. In an undercover segment for the programme, Steffan Powell impersonated a prospective ticket tout and captured audio of a Pakistani ticket pulling company boss, who claimed he could assemble a team of pullers capable of purchasing hundreds of concert tickets. Identifying himself as Ali, the individual bragged about his team's success in obtaining numerous tickets for Taylor Swift's Eras tour the previous year, among other significant events, and suggested that touts are raking in "millions" through such schemes. Ali boasted: "I think we had 300 Coldplay tickets, 330, something like that. And then we had Oasis in the same week - we did great" Ali further revealed his awareness of a UK tout who earned over £500,000 last year from reselling tickets, with others raking in millions. A separate ticket reseller from India discussed their strategy on bypassing UK laws, indicating: "If I'm sitting in your country and running my operations in your country, then it is completely illegal. We do not participate in illegal things because actually we are outside of the UK." Ticketing industry veteran Reg Walker described to the programme his infiltration of a covert online group that allegedly racks up thousands of tickets using dubious methods. Walker illuminated the tactics used by such groups to amass 100,000 "queue passes", thereby sidestepping the virtual queue systems set up for concert ticket purchases. He elaborated: "The equivalent is 100,000 people all of a sudden turning up and pushing in front of you in the queue," and expounded on how this impedes true fans from acquiring tickets, "So now you've gone from first in the queue to 100,001. This is the perfect example of how touts block genuine fans out from the ability to buy tickets." The UK Government is plotting fresh measures against the operations of touts, with a spokesperson stating: "We have consulted on a range of measures, including a price cap on ticket resales, as we aim to better protect fans and support the growth of the UK's world leading live events and sport sectors." Scams & Scandals: The Great Ticket Rip-Off is now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Man jailed for repeated violence against woman
A man has been jailed for repeated violence against a woman, including strangling her. Kane O'Donnell, 21, of Beresford Avenue, Skegness, pleaded guilty to intentional strangulation, two counts of assault by beating, engaging in controlling/coercive behaviour in an intimate relationship, and two counts of actual bodily harm. The offences took place between January and March. O'Donnell was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court on 20 June to two years and three months in prison. Speaking after the case, his victim said the convictions would offer hope and courage to those "still suffering in silence". She said: "It's incredibly difficult for victims of abuse to come forward, especially when they fear they won't be believed or protected. "I hope that by acknowledging the harm that was done can serve as a powerful message to other victims: that their voices matter, and that the police will take them seriously." PC Andy Taylor praised the "immense bravery and strength" shown by the woman. "Let me be absolutely clear: we treat reports of harm or wrongdoing with the utmost seriousness it deserves," he said. The court also made O'Donnell the subject of an indefinite restraining order. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
A six-year investigation, DNA evidence and up to £52million worth of drugs brought empire crashing down
A huge drugs empire was brought crashing down following a major six-year investigation by detectives. A trio of crooks have been banged up for over 40 years for their roles in the conspiracy. The investigation was launched when officers searched an address in Salford in March 2019, with further raids carried out on a house in Worsley and a commercial premises in Poynton, Cheshire. It revealed the property was being used at the time as part of a commercial drug supply operation. Behind the scenes were ringleader Payden Candland and associates Leo Groves and Ricky Lee, who were buying a kilo of cocaine every week or fortnight and, over a decade, are believed to have purchased and sold on between 260kg to 520kg of cocaine. READ MORE: LIVE: Manchester services hit after train derails causing UK travel chaos - latest updates READ MORE: They had planning permission to build a garage - but built a house Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Officers uncovered a large amount of cocaine with a street value of £173,000 and wads of cash totalling £33,080. They also seized a black holdall from the living room that contained two jackets, a coat, disposable gloves, three plastic containers, a box of rubber bands, an assortment of plastic bags, digital scales, a court heard. Leo Groves' fingerprints were found on a carrier bag inside the holdall, which also contained a number of packages of cocaine. His DNA was found on the inside surface of two pieces of latex glove and his fingerprints recovered from a £20 note in a bundle found in the jacket, police said. Greater Manchester Police detectives found the plastic tubs contained a number of separate plastic packages containing a large amount of cocaine weighing a total of 1.7kg. Detectives also recovered several handwritten notebooks from that same bedroom appearing to show detailed drugs transactions dating back to 2009 and implicated Candland, Groves and Lee. Candland was out when officers went to his house in Worsley where a search revealed several mobile phones and £1,953 in cash. On the same morning, Candland and Groves were arrested during a third strike at a newsagent in Poynton. They were both taken into custody on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs. Following the arrest of Groves, a further search was conducted at his home address in Weaste, where a quantity of drugs, snap bags and a mobile phone were recovered, as well as a small quantity of bagged cocaine hidden under the bed, court heard. A review of a seized mobile phone found messages to and from a number of people including 'Pay' later found to be Candland, 'Chodey' found to be Groves and 'Pumba' later found to be Lee. A video on the phone showed a man with a tattoo holding a knife – the tattoo was later confirmed to belong to Lee. A drugs expert concluded that their conspiracy appears to have been dealing with sums between £26m and £52m depending how it was divided up and sold on. Payden Candland, Leo Groves and Ricky Lee pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply class A drugs at Bolton Crown Court after a six-year investigation. On Thursday (June 26), Candland, 33, of Derby Road, Salford, was jailed for 19 years and nine months. Groves, 33, of Swinton Hall Road, Swinton, for 15 years and nine months; and Lee, 33, of Eccles Road, Swinton, for seven years to be added to the 14 years he was serving for previous offences. Detective Inspector Sarah Langley of GMP's Economic Crime Unit, said: 'This was without doubt a long-running and large-scale drugs supply operation which was running from a small terraced house in Salford. 'The three men ran a sophisticated business model which was professional and commercial, they were boldly selling drugs across our region and exploiting vulnerable people. But now, we have stopped this, and put them behind bars, far away from causing any more harm to members of the public. 'Following criminal proceedings, we will now go after their finances, to ensure they cannot enjoy a luxurious lifestyle from their criminal profits." --- Day in day out, our reporters in the Manchester Evening News newsroom bring you remarkable stories from all aspects of Mancunian life. However, with the pace of life these days, the frenetic news agenda and social media algorithms, you might not be getting a chance to read it. That's why every week our Features and Perspectives editor Rob Williams brings you Unmissable, highlighting the best of what we do - bringing it to you directly from us. Make sure you don't miss out, and see what else we have to offer, by clicking here and signing up for MEN Daily News. And be sure to join our politics writer Jo Timan every Sunday for his essential commentary on what matters most to you in Greater Manchester each week in our newsletter Due North. You can also sign up for that here. You can also get all your favourite content from the Manchester Evening News on WhatsApp. Click here to see everything we offer, including everything from breaking news to Coronation Street. If you prefer reading our stories on your phone, consider downloading the Manchester Evening News app here, and our news desk will make sure every time an essential story breaks, you'll be the first to hear about it. And finally, if there is a story you think our journalists should be looking into, we want to hear from you. Email us on newsdesk@ or give us a ring on 0161 211 2920.
