A PUB regular who had been barred for "mooning" has been jailed for seven years for causing the "catastrophic" death of the landlord after the two got into a fight.

Craig Birtwistle, aged 37, was found guilty of manslaughter by a  jury and sentenced at Manchester Crown Court yesterday.

Birtwistle, of Crescent Avenue, Farnworth, was convicted after Colin Moore, landlord of the Bradford Arms, collapsed and died of a heart attack as a result of an altercation between the two outside the pub on October 24 last year.

The court previously heard how Birtwistle swung his arm at 57-year-old Mr Moore, who weighed 21 stone, and struck him with his elbow.

Mr Moore then became unwell and after Birtwistle left he collapsed and stopped breathing.

Police and paramedics arrived a short time later and began attempts to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead 25 minutes later at 7.07pm.

Birtwistle, wearing a grey suit, tie and glasses, listened as the judge, Mr Justice William Davis, told him of the impact his actions had had.

He said: "It is self-evident, the harm you have caused. It was catastrophic. It was as serious as it could be.

"People who have been affected have explained the devastating impact of your actions.

"When you did what you did, you did not give a thought that Mr Moore might die or suffer serious harm.

"The victim was vulnerable. He was 20 years older and he was obviously very unfit compared to you. You thought nothing of attacking him and you did all that when you were drunk."

Mr Justice Davis then read out a short statement from Mr Moore's partner Susan Kendrick, which said: "Colin Moore was my future. My life has changed so dramatically.

"His death is so hard to comprehend."

On Tuesday the court heard from Paul Reid, prosecution, that Birtwistle had been barred from the Buckley Lane pub on several occasions.

This included when he dropped his trousers and showed his bottom in the pub as landlady Ms Kendrick was talking to her daughter via Facetime.

On the day of Mr Moore's death, Birtwistle's friend and neighbour Michael Renwick was drinking in the pub when he rang his friend.

During the conversation, which was put on Mr Renwick’s phone loudspeaker, Birtwistle asked if he was still barred. Mr Moore agreed to allow him to come back.

The landlord then asked to speak to Birtwistle outside when he arrived.

During the sentencing hearing, Alwyn Jones, defending, said: "This is not a case where weapons were used.

"It is difficult to quantify the degree of force that was used in that elbow blow.

"The significant feature here is that whatever he had in mind, Craig Birtwistle, with the amount of force and violence, had no thought that the consequences would be so serious and so tragic."