Pc Findley's mother: I will never get over his death

Pc Chris Findley, 33, was killed with a single punch by 19-year-old Dale Dixon outside Divine Bar in Darlington Street, Wolverhampton.

Today at Wolverhampton Crown Court Dixon was jailed for three-and-a-half years for manslaughter. Pc Findley was walking home alone at the time after a night out with friends and became embroiled in a row with a female friend of Dixon's.

The officer, who was off-duty at the time, pushed her away as she attacked him. As she fell to the floor Dixon then rushed in and administered the fatal blow.

Pc Findley, of Merridale Avenue in Merridale, was knocked unconscious before he hit the floor and died 10 days later in hospital.

His mother Jackie Tabrett paid tribute to her son and said not a day had gone by since his death that she had not thought about him.

She added: "He was a police officer for which I was very proud of him – he joined to keep people safe and protect them from harm and to put those individuals responsible for committing crime into the justice system.

"It's hard to believe that one of those people is responsible for taking my son's life. I don't think I'll ever in my lifetime come to terms with what has happened."

Dixon, of New Heath Close in Wednesfield, admitted manslaughter at a previous hearing.

Mr Gareth Walters, prosecuting, told the court that it is still not known what the argument between Pc Findley and the woman was about.

Gasps were heard from the public gallery as CCTV of the attack was shown to the courtroom.

Mr Walters said: "It was a very substantial blow to the nose. It was against an innocent victim – there was nothing Chris Findley did other than stop her assaulting him."

Defending Dixon, Mr William Dudley said: "There was no motive or intent to reflect what ultimately happened. He acknowledges and has to live with the fact of what he's done."

In sentencing Dixon, Judge John Warner told the teenager that it was tragic that an innocent man had lost his life.

He said: "Chris Findley, by the manner of his walking, was simply making his way down the street.

"He was causing no trouble at all.

"You ran towards him intending to assault him and your blow was delivered with some force.

"As as result of your violence a man died."

Dixon was told he would serve half of his sentence and remain on licence thereafter.