Man jailed for killing passer-by in parking row

A man has been jailed after killing a passer-by in a row over parking.

Harry Fowle, 34, punched 53-year-old Anthony Harley after Mr Harley told him he could not park his car in a taxi bay in Church Street, Blackpool on 19 February.

Mr Harley's head hit the ground and he died in hospital a month later.

Fowle, of Brook Street, Blackpool, was jailed at Preston Crown Court for one year and 10 months after admitting Mr Harley's manslaughter in February.

Mr Harley's father Paul said the loss of his son had been "like a bomb being dropped on our lives".

Fowle was originally arrested on suspicion of wounding and was charged with manslaughter following Anthony Harley’s death.

Paul Harley said his son's life was taken in the most "soul-destroying way".

In a victim personal statement he said the family were already "grieving and absolutely heartbroken" after his wife of 57 years died from cancer.

“I remember a phone call telling me Anthony had been involved in an incident and was in intensive care," he said.

"I fell to pieces and was devastated at hearing this.

“We were asked as a family to attend the hospital some three and a half weeks after the assault on Anthony.

"We were told the doctors had done everything they could, and Anthony’s brain had died.

“Having to turn the machines off and take out the tubes that were keeping Anthony alive was absolutely heart-breaking and it absolutely ripped our hearts out."

Det Insp Simon Pritchard said the case "shows the devastating consequences which can result from a single punch".

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