Boxer jailed for killing war veteran sergeant

Michael Ridley, 22, landed a ferocious punch on war veteran Chris Chacksfield and his wife Adele, a British Army nurse while they were on a night out in Newcastle. The couple, who have both served in Afghanistan, met while in the Army.

Some witnesses said a single blow felled the couple, who had been walking arm-in-arm through the city centre in the early hours of May 31.

Judge Esmond Faulks, sitting at Newcastle Crown Court, said: "This was a dreadful tragedy brought about by your behaviour." Powerfully built Ridley, who stood over 6ft tall, admitted manslaughter and unlawful wounding. After he was arrested, police found testosterone used by body builders at his home.

Ridley, of Sceptre Place, Newcastle, was told he could be freed after serving just half his sentence.

Sergeant Chacksfield, originally from Tamworth, Staffordshire, described as a gentle giant, was on exercise in the North East and was allowed a night off to spend time with his wife.

Sgt Chacksfield looked after the couple's three-year-old Sofia while his wife was serving for four months at Camp Bastion.

Outside court, his 32-year-old widow, originally from Derby, said: "I am obviously disappointed in the sentence, on the other hand they caught somebody and he is behind bars.

"Although it doesn't seem fair, I believe he will get his comeuppance in the end."

Wearing his wedding ring on a necklace, his widow said: "You could almost understand it if he had died on active service, but not on a night out."

Judge Faulks said Ridley had bumped into the 31-year-old soldier, before striking out.