LIAM McCann has been found not guilty of murdering Alan Davies.

But the 20-year-old was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and sentenced to six years in a young offenders institute yesterday (Tuesday).

McCann attacked Mr Davies after he accidentally spilt his pint inside Club Essential in March this year.

Mr Davies also suffered a head injury when a friend drove him away from the club and crashed on Dundalk Road.

A post mortem found Mr Davies, 21, of Fulbeck, suffered fatal brain injuries.

Medical experts told the four-week trial that they couldn't say for certain which brain injuries were caused in which incident.

Mr Justice Edwards said he was sentencing McCann strictly on the basis that he did not cause Mr Davies' death.

But he told him: "You were fighting drunk, you had lost control, you behaved in a quite appalling manner. You went back on a least one occasion for more."

Witnesses told the trial McCann 'roared' after the attack as he passed Aladdin's Pizza on Victoria Road.

Mr Justice Edwards said: "Then, to mark what you had done, there is that evidence, which I accept was quite accurate, of that roar of triumph."

Temper

David Aubrey, QC, defending, told Chester Crown Court in mitigation that McCann had lost his temper on the spur of the moment and should not be punished for Mr Davies death.

He also said only the external injuries caused in the assault should be considered in deciding the length of the sentence.

He said McCann, of Brunner Road, was still only a young man who had been affected by the death of his murdered father.

After the sentence, Det Insp Dougie Shaw, said: "The medical evidence was crucial and this was always going to be the case.

"We need to thank the witnesses for coming, it wasn't an easy trial."