A 22-YEAR-OLD soldier has been jailed for just over two years for killing an Amesbury man in a car park on New Year’s Day last year.

Daryl Stephen Talbot, who was with the Royal School of Artillery but has now been discharged, admitted the manslaughter of 34-year-old Paul Garland and was sentenced to 28 months in prison at Winchester Crown Court on Friday.

Mr Garland, a keen footballer and IT worker, was discovered unconscious outside the New Inn at 4.25am on New Year’s Day last year. He died of head injuries.

Talbot went to Amesbury Police Station to hand himself in the following morning. He admitted punching Mr Garland but said he had not realised the extent of his injuries when he left the scene.

He was originally charged with murder but changed his plea to admit manslaughter on the second day of his trial in January. The court heard then that the reason Mr Garland died was a bleed in his brain caused by an artery in his neck tearing when his head snapped back after a punch.

The court was told it was unpredictable and tragic that he had died rather than just walked away with bruising on his face.

In sentencing Talbot, Judge Guy Boney said the haemorrhage was “the most appalling bad luck, but triggered by your actions and it was not confined to a single blow”.

He added: “They were hard blows delivered by a young and athletic man to a victim who was older and impaired by disability. You were heavy in drink and quarrelsome with it.”

Defending Talbot, Nigel Pascoe QC said the whole incident had only lasted about 25 seconds and Talbot was genuinely remorseful for what he had done.

He read a letter Talbot had written apologising to Mr Garland’s family: “There are no words I can say to explain or show how sincerely sorry I am for what happened. No amount of apologies can numb the pain for the family. My actions were fast and rash. I don’t expect forgiveness but I feel privileged to be offered the opportunity to apologise to all affected.”

Speaking after the sentencing, principle crown advocate Simon Edwards said: “Paul Garland went to the New Inn to celebrate the new year. Sadly, he would never completely celebrate New Year’s Day. He died suddenly and tragically simply because he crossed the path of Daryl Talbot and because of his jealousy and possessive behaviour it led him to commit this terrible crime.”

Mr Garland’s family were clearly devastated by the outcome and declined to comment. A victim impact statement from his mother was not read out in open court but was handed in to Judge Boney who described it as an “utterly heartbreaking document”.

Chief Insp Sean Memory of Wiltshire Police said: "Paul's tragic death on 1st January 2011 occurred on what should have been a happy occasion as he celebrated New Year with his friends.

"Instead Talbot assaulted Paul in an unprovoked attack and left him with serious injuries which resulted in his death.

"This was a cowardly attack on a popular and fun loving man who despite his disability led a very active life. Paul represented a number of local football teams and was a keen skier.

"I am thankful for the support shown by the community in Amesbury and my thoughts are with Paul's family and friends."