Headlock led to death of 'irreplaceable' Leeds dad-of-three during neighbour fight in Rothwell
A married couple who scrapped with a dad-of-three in the street over a neighbour dispute, got him into a headlock which triggered a fatal heart attack.
Paul Davinson died after the fight with Stephen and Cheryl Long on Smithson Street, Rothwell, shortly before 10pm on Saturday, March 9.
The pair, who lived nearby on Prospect Place, were neighbours of Mr Davinson’s partner, who had a spat with the Longs.
Both sides had complained to the police and the housing association about each other since the summer of 2022.
During the late-night clash, Mr Davinson, 49, was put in the chokehold by Stephen Long for “up to five minutes”, while Cheryl Long kicked him.
Mr Davinson fell unconscious and died in hospital an hour later. It was only after his death that his serious heart condition was discovered.
The Longs were both jailed at Leeds Crown Court this morning for a combined total of more than 10 years after admitting manslaughter.
Judge Tom Bayliss KC said it was neighbour dispute that had “tragic consequences” and that “nobody knew how vulnerable Mr Davinson was”. He said that the couple had since “realised the enormity of what they did”.
Sentencing them, he added: “The mutual ill-feeling generated was the catalyst for the tragedy that unfolded on March 9. You two were drunk, the both of you.
“Neither you or he knew he had a very serious heart condition. You were just a group of people who had been drinking and fighting.”
Prosecutor, Katherine Goddard KC, said that on that day, Mr Davinson had been drinking in Rothwell and had come across the Longs, who were also out. There had been words exchanged in Rothwell WMC earlier in the evening between the couple and a friend of Mr Davinson with whom he was drinking.
Their paths fatefully crossed again on Smithson Street later that night as they made their way home. Mr Davinson had come across a group of young males and asked them to help him smash the windows to the Long’s flat.
Witnesses said they saw 49-year-old Stephen then run across the road towards Mr Davinson, followed by 46-year-old Cheryl, who was walking. The men both grabbed each other’s coats and Mr Davinson threw a punch.
Stephen then threw a punch with such force it knocked Mr Davinson to the floor. He was kicked and punched by both defendants as he was on the floor. Stephen then got him in the headlock as Cheryl kicked him.
When he finally let go, he was left motionless on the floor. Stephen tried to pass it off as Mr Davinson “being drunk”, but became concerned when he could not find a pulse and 999 was called.
He was revived and taken to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield by ambulance but sadly died at 11.21pm that night.
The post-mortem discovered that Mr Davinson had an undiagnosed enlarged heart. Medical experts concluded that his death was a “direct consequence” of the strain put on his heart due to the headlock.
In statements from his family, Mr Davinson was described as being “irreplaceable” who would work hard to provide for his three children.
The Longs were arrested with Stephen denying any involvement, claiming he saw Mr Davinson fall over and tried to revive him. Cheryl deleted footage from her mobile phone, the Crown said.
They were both charged with murder, which they denied, but last month they admitted manslaughter which was accepted by the Crown.
Cheryl has no previous convictions, but Stephen has previous convictions for violence. They have both been held in custody since their arrest.
Mitigating for Stephen, Mark McKone KC said he was “remorseful” for his actions and that Mr Davinson’s death had not been anticipated.
For Cheryl, Rupert Doswell KC said his client recognised that her behaviour that night was “wrong and inappropriate”. He said she was drinking socially with her husband that night and had not gone looking for trouble.
She had even tried to defuse the situation in the Rothwell WMC earlier in the evening. He said her involvement in the fight was out of character.
Stephen was handed an eight-year jail sentence, with Cheryl sentenced to 30 months.
Stephen Long will serve up to two-third of his sentence, with Cheryl expected to serve half before being considered for parole.
They were both also given an indefinite-length restraining order to stay away from Prospect Place.