Man jailed over vandalism killing

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A man who killed a father-of-six who confronted him about damage to his car has been jailed for eight years.

Jay O'Neill, 21, pleaded guilty to the culpable homicide of 42-year-old James Alford in Paisley in May this year.

Scott Milroy, 17, was jailed for 38 months after admitting assaulting Mr Alford to his severe injury.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard how the victim died in hospital after sustaining irreversible brain damage in the attack.

The court was told how Mr Alford confronted O'Neill and Milroy, both from Paisley, in a nearby lane after they had knocked the wing mirror off his car in the town's Lochinver Crescent.

He was assaulted by both men and fell to the ground, where he was kicked and punched.

A witness to the attack saw Milroy run off while O'Neill continued to kick Mr Alford on the ground.

A man has lost his life and, as was recognised, a substantial sentence is required in this case Lord Bannatyne

O'Neill later told youths that he punched Mr Alford and kicked his legs and he fell over.

When the victim's head struck the ground there was a sound like "cracking an egg in a frying pan".

O'Neill and Milroy were both originally charged with murder but the Crown accepted pleas to the reduced charges.

Passing sentence, Lord Bannatyne told O'Neill: "A man has lost his life and, as was recognised, a substantial sentence is required in this case."

The judge also jailed him for a further 18 months for an earlier assault on 16-year-old Martin Hester, who O'Neill knocked unconscious on 16 May in Paisley.

Mother's fears

Lord Bannatyne ordered that O'Neill should begin the latest sentences after he completes a four-year term he is currently serving for robbery and serious assault.

Mr Alford's sister, Teresa Maitland, 46, said: "He's paid with his life for his wing mirror."

She said that her mother, who suffers from cancer and was looked after by her brother, now faced the prospect of seeing Milroy on a daily basis within a year.

Mrs Maitland added: "The young boy Milroy will be home within 11 months and he's got to walk past her front door every day - he only lives five doors away from her.

"The council is going to have to offer some alternative housing for my mum or the Milroy family because she can't live with that every day. She's an unwell woman."