Friends of tragic police officer in call for tougher sentences

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

The Sandwell-based officer 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.

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 threw the fatal blow.

Pc Findley, of Merridale Avenue in Merridale, Wolverhampton, was knocked unconscious before he hit the floor at around 4am on January 28. He died 10 days later in hospital.

Friends of Pc Findley have called for tougher sentencing laws for those who commit similar crimes, while 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, placed Findley in the recovery position and called an ambulance – but had left the scene in a taxi before paramedics arrived.

He admitted manslaughter at a previous hearing.

At Wolverhampton Crown Court Dixon yesterday he was jailed for three-and-a-half years for manslaughter.

David Vanham, aged 61, spoke on behalf of Mr Findley's friends and family when he said: "He lived his all-too-short life to the full and will never be forgotten by all those people who knew, loved and respected him.

"The sentence handed out will not bring Fin back,and Dale Dixon will be released and walking the streets of Wolverhampton again before he is anywhere near to reaching the age of the man whose life he took.

"This was an unprovoked, brutal and cowardly attack and it is perhaps time for the public to demand that the Dale Dixons of this world who are prepared to risk carrying out this type of assault are held accountable for their actions and suffer a sentence more befitting to taking someone's life.

"The ordeal of watching Fin's battle for survival after this mindless attack was an emotional roller coaster and despite the tremendous care and efforts by the staff of the intensive care unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Fin's life support system was switched off on February 7. That day will remain in the minds of those who were present for the rest of their lives."

Mr Gareth Walters, prosecuting, told the court that it was 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.