Doormen jailed after Shrewsbury club attack

Two nightclub doormen have been jailed for the manslaughter of a man who died after an attack in Shrewsbury.

Darren Griffiths, 41, of Harmer Hill, near Shrewsbury, was hurt at the Liquid and Diva club in June 2009.

Neil Stokes, 23, of Spring Gardens, Ditherington, who had admitted manslaughter, was jailed for six years at Birmingham Crown Court.

Daryl Brown, 33, from Telford, who was found guilty of manslaughter, was jailed for four and a half years.

Mr Justice Kenneth Parker described the attack as "brutal and vicious" and said Stokes had used wholly disproportionate force.

The judge said Stokes' intention had been to carry out a punishment beating.

He added he accepted Brown, from Severn Drive, Wellington, had not hit or kicked Mr Griffiths, but had continued to restrain him forcibly while he was attacked.

Mr Griffiths, a father of four, and another person tried to get into Liquid and Diva but were refused entry, firstly for wearing the wrong clothes and then after getting changed they were told they were too drunk, the court heard.

It was told following an argument, Mr Griffiths was seen on CCTV to be walking away, but another doorman who did not face charges then said something which riled him.

He turned and walked back in an apparently aggressive manner, the court heard.

Stokes and Brown waded in and the three dragged Mr Griffiths inside the club, it was told.

The sentences include time already spent in custody.

Speaking after the sentencing, Phil Wintle, who knew Mr Griffiths for 30 years, said: "It proves the value of life within this country.

"A man can get 20 years for defrauding a bank, yet you kill somebody and you get six and four [and a half years].

"Let's put it into context. They've killed a man, they've taken a husband and a father away.