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A convicted criminal who killed a young dad with a single punch to the face has been jailed for six years and nine months.

Esinkumo Ayabowei, 27, fell backwards and hit his head on the ground when he was struck by Kieran Roberts, 26, in an unprovoked attack outside a nightclub.

The punch shattered Mr Ayabowei's jaw and knocked him unconscious, and he suffered a fractured skull when his head hit the floor.

Mr Ayabowei, a dad-of-two, never regained consciousness and died despite efforts to save him at the scene and in hospital, the Daily Post reports.

The court heard Roberts was released from prison shortly before the attack and had boasted about his release, saying he was "going to bang someone out tonight".

(Image: North Wales Police)

Roberts, who was drunk, approached Mr Ayabowei and without warning or provocation punched him outside the Peep nightclub in Bangor, North Wales, in the early hours of April 1.

One witness said the sound of it was “like something being broken”.

Paul Lewis QC, prosecuting, said others intervened and an ambulance was called.

Roberts, who had previously been jailed for five years in July 2013 for holding a sawn off shotgun to another man's head, admitted manslaughter in Mr Ayabowei's death.

(Image: North Wales Police)

Judge Paul Thomas QC sentenced him to six years and nine months with an extended licence period of five years.

Roberts showed no emotion as he was led away to the cells.

The judge told Caernarfon Crown Court that the victim had simply gone out that night for a good time, but Roberts went out "looking for trouble".

He described Mr Ayabowei, of Llangefni, Anglesey, as a "hapless victim" and added that Roberts poses a very high risk of causing serious injury to another person in future.

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Members of both men's families were in court to watch the sentencing hearing.

Mr Ayabowei was originally from Nigeria, and was known as Henry and Romeo to his friends.

His death has left his widow Melicia Gerrard “in ruins" and feeling "like an empty shell".

The court heard that on March 31 Roberts, of Bangor, was said to be boasting about his release from prison, saying he was “going to bang someone out tonight”.

(Image: Daily Post)

Elwen Evans QC, defending, said when Roberts was arrested he had no idea his actions had been so devastating.

When he was told what happened he was "distraught and upset", she added.

Ms Evans said Roberts was drunk but had not been confrontational at other pubs in Bangor earlier.

She said Roberts walked away after punching Mr Ayabowei and was detained not far away.

There was some hostility at that stage and Roberts suffered minor injuries, she added.

After Roberts was jailed, Mr Ayabowei's widow said in a statement: "Whilst Kieran Roberts begins his brief term behind bars my family and I are continuing to live our lives without Henry.

"For us there will never be a release from this pain and suffering.

(Image: Robert Parry Jones)

"My world as I knew it has crumbled around me. Our lives have been permanently scarred by this sickening act, an act which is incomprehensible to those in society who understand and appreciate the most decent of values.

"I am determined to be strong for our daughters. It’s heartbreaking to think that they will have to experience every Christmas, birthday and school sports day without their dad through no fault of his own.

"Our youngest daughter only knew her dad for the first five months of her life but I will do everything I can to ensure she knows how much he loved her as will Henry’s family in Nigeria who we remain in daily contact with.

"This would make Henry proud. Henry was a very special person, a great character who was full of life with high hopes for the future.

"He touched many people from many walks of life and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all those who had the pleasure of meeting him. The world truly is a lesser place without him."

Senior Investigating Officer DCI Brain Kearney at Caernarfon CID said: "Kieran Roberts is where he belongs, behind bars. This was a truly wicked and totally unprovoked crime that has left a family heartbroken and sickened a community.

"Roberts is a vile, vicious and, in the words of the judge, dangerous thug and throughout this investigation he has shown no remorse whatsoever.

"He is without doubt a dangerous individual and many in the local community we be reassured by his imprisonment. North Wales is a safer place without him."