Man jailed for manslaughter 19 years after attack outside pub left victim paralysed

‘He was a lovely, happy chap who loved playing sport but was left with years of pain, misery and being unable to do anything himself,’ says Mark Wilkie’s sister

Mark Wilkie suffered life-changing injuries and needed round-the-clock care after being punched (SWNS)

A man has been jailed for manslaughter 19 years after paralysing another man with a single punch outside a pub.

Mark Wilkie required round-the-clock care as a result of suffering major brain injuries, until he died two years ago – 17 years after the attack.

Paul Proctor, 47, attacked Wilkie after a row over ordering a taxi for two women on 6 August 2000.

He punched him once in the face outside The Tyburn House in Castle Vale, Birmingham, causing him to fall back and hit his head on the pavement.

Wilkie, who was 27, was left paralysed and unable to breathe by himself.

In 2002 Proctor, of Shard End, Birmingham, was originally jailed for 18 months after being convicted of wounding at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

He said he found Wilkie on the ground and he responded to fears of being hit in the face with a glass, but a jury rejected his claims.

On Thursday he was jailed for a further two years and 10 months after he admitted manslaughter at Birmingham Crown Court.

The court was told Wilkie had died aged 44 from pneumonia related to his injuries caused by Proctor 19 years prior.

After the case Wilkie’s sister Claire said: “The events of that evening in 2000 tore our family apart and left us all devastated.

“I had been with him earlier in the day of the attack and just couldn’t believe what had happened only hours later.

“He was a lovely, happy chap who loved playing sport but was left with years of pain, misery and being unable to do anything himself.

“We will never get over the impact of that night and the loss of Mark, but we’re grateful to West Midlands Police (WMP) for all they have done to get some justice.”

Wilkie had spent the afternoon with his sister and her family before heading to the pub to meet friends.

But he was left in intensive care after Proctor launched his attack because he would not give him his phone to call a taxi.

He was a lovely, happy chap who loved playing sport but was left with years of pain, misery and being unable to do anything himself

Claire Wilkie

The court heard Wilkie joked “give me a fiver and you can use it” before Proctor, who had recently been convicted of headbutting his wife, punched him.

He was left quadriplegic and needing 24-hour care. In September 2017 he was taken to hospital with bronchopneumonia, and died within weeks.

Detective Inspector Jim Colclough, of WMP, said: “Mr Wilkie was left severely disabled as a result of the attack almost 20 years ago.

“He lost his independence and had a much-reduced quality of life until his sad death in 2017.

“Once it was established those injuries contributed to his death we set about securing evidence to prosecute Proctor again.

“He has accepted his responsibility for the death of Mr Wilkie with his plea.

“This just shows that the passing of years is no barrier to us and we will always seek justice for families.”

Additional reporting by SWNS