JURORS have held a former Bacup licensee responsible for the death of a man he stabbed during a mass street brawl nearly two-and-a-half years ago.

Jonathan Wrigley, then the landlord of The Wellington pub, knifed Jamie Mulcahy after he intervened in a confrontation between rival drinkers on Yorkshire Street.

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He then returned to his Todmorden Road pub and tried to wipe incriminating CCTV footage of his movements that night, which had been recorded on the pub’s system.

Mr Mulcahy collapsed after initially walking away from the stabbing, suffering a cardiac arrest and irreversible brain damage. He required round-the-clock care afterwards and died in the Royal Blackburn Hospital, aged 26, in December 2015.

Initially 36-year-old Wrigley was cleared of attempted murder but convicted of wounding with intent and perverting the course of justice, following a Preston Crown Court trial, and jailed for 13-and-a-half years.

But, after Mr Mulcahy’s death, permission was successfully sought by Lancashire Police from the Attorney General to charge Wrigley with murder.

A four-day hearing at Liverpool Crown Court has resulted in him being found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

He was given a 15-year term but will serve 10 years and four months because of time already spent on remand.

Speaking after the case, Det Insp Pete Danby said: “Jonathan Wrigley is clearly a violent and controlling individual whose actions on that night destroyed the life of a young man and devastated his family.

“I would like to express my thanks to the witnesses in this case who had the courage to come forward and assist with what has been a difficult and protracted investigation and prosecution.

“Finally I would like to thank Jamie’s family for conducting themselves with dignity throughout both sets of proceedings. Our thoughts remain with them.”

Wrigley claimed at his original trial that he had been trying to intervene in the street brawl to protect one of his bar staff, Gemma Stafford, who was seen punching two men by eyewitnesses.

The confrontation had begun after the publican’s cousin, Curtis Munro, had pursued a Wellington customer, Shannon Young, down the street, the court heard.

He was working at the pub and was attempting to persuade her to return when a group of young men became involved. Munro ran back to The Wellington, enlisting the help of several regulars and leading them towards St James Square.

Wrigley drove to the scene in his Hyundai coupe car and was seen “carrying something silver” moments before the stabbing.

Munro, 21, of Queen’s Road, Heywood, admitted perverting the course of justice, for his role in wiping the CCTV and was jailed for 16 months.