Men guilty of Preston night out one-punch killing

Jack Jermy-Doyle died in hospital two days after the attack

Two men have been found guilty of killing a stranger who was knocked out by a single punch on a night out.

Jack Jermy-Doyle, 25, was attacked near Birley Street in Preston at about 02:40 BST on 12 August 2022.

Jake Parkinson, 22, was convicted of manslaughter following a trial at Preston Crown Court. Jak Fairclough, 29, previously admitted the charge.

The pair, from Preston, had been "making a nuisance of themselves and fighting", the court heard.

They had been out in Preston with a group on the previous evening and throughout the night had been involved in "aggressive behaviour", the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said. Mr Jermy-Doyle was also out with a friend. After starting the night in Chorley they headed into Preston city centre and were in the flag market area at about 02:30 BST.

Parkinson and Fairclough had been "making a nuisance of themselves and fighting"

Mr Jermy Doyle was ahead of his friend and as his friend sat on a bench, he walked on, the CPS said. He was approached by Parkinson and Fairclough and Parkinson delivered a blow to Mr Jermy-Doyle's stomach.

Fairclough then punched him in the face, knocking him to the ground where he banged his head and was knocked unconscious. Fairclough and Parkinson then fled the scene. Mr Jermy-Doyle suffered a serious head injury and died on 14 August, having never regained consciousness. Fairclough telephoned the police to hand himself in, after taking steps to destroy evidence. Both he and Parkinson were subsequently arrested, the CPS said. Fairclough admitted he had punched Mr Jermy-Doyle and that he had disposed of the clothing he was wearing that night in a neighbour's bin. Parkinson admitted in interview that he had given Mr Jermy-Doyle what he called a "little dig in his belly" but claimed that Mr Jermy-Doyle was the aggressor. The pair will be sentenced on Wednesday.