A drunken student who kicked and punched a pensioner to death in an unprovoked attack just because he wanted a fight has been jailed for nine years.

Samuel Watts, 23, had already attacked two strangers before he targeted Melvyn Hargreaves, 72, after a bar crawl in Derby on January 2 last year.

Mr Hargreaves, a father—of-four and retired factor worker, was out walking his collie dogs with his his partner Jean Bill, 77, at 12.20am.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that Watts swore at the couple and shoved Mr Hargreaves in the chest.

Mr Hargreaves stood his ground and pushed him back before walking away with his partner along Mercian Way on the outskirts of the city centre.

But former student Watts ran up behind them and punched Mr Hargreaves in the shoulder, sending him face-first into the ground and breaking his glasses.

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Watts then kicked and punched him on the neck and head as he lay on the ground, leaving him unconscious in a puddle.

He was rushed to hospital after his partner dialled 999 but died of his head injuries two days later.

Watts was arrested after police went through CCTV footage.

He was jailed for nine years on Monday after pleading guilty to manslaughter at Nottingham Crown Court.

Sentencing, Mr Justice Anthony Haddon-Cave told him: “You were clearly spoiling for a fight and it was by sheer bad luck that Melvyn Hargreaves encountered you.

“It was a case of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Watts had been drinking heavily around the city and was involved in at least five altercations before the fatal attack.

Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, said: “There was aggressive conduct towards others before and after the fatal confrontation.

“He was angry that night and he was looking for trouble.

“As Jean Bill and Mr Hargreaves got level with the defendant, the dogs began rearing up and barking at him.

“Samuel Watts’ reaction was to swear at the couple and to push Mr Hargreaves to the chest. Mr Hargreaves pushed the defendant back.

“Moments later the defendant approached Mr Hargreaves from behind. Without any warning he punched him to the back of the right shoulder.

“This sudden and unexpected blow knocked the old man forward. Unable to break his fall he landed face first in the gutter.

“Mr Hargreaves’ impact with the ground caused his glasses to break and he sustained unpleasant facial injuries, including two black eyes as well as cuts and bruises to his limbs.

“He was on the ground and unable to defend himself. The defendant kicked him several times to the back of the head and neck area and to the body.”

Peter Joyce QC, defending, said his client could not remember anything about the incident but accepted responsibility.

Speaking after Mr Hargreaves’ death, Miss Bill said: “I was just numb when I was told by the police he had died.

“Melvyn was a lovely man, generous, got on with everyone and loved going out and socialising.

“We had been out to the 102 Social Club, in Friar Gate that night and had got back and decided we needed to take my dogs out for a walk.

“Melvyn was a real life and soul of the party, he loved going out for a pint and a game of pool or darts.”

(Pictures: SWNS)