Teen killed peacemaker with punch on night out

A killer who fatally punched a peacemaker trying to break up a fight on a night out has been jailed for four years and 10 months.

Ethan Cockram was 19 when he struck Simon Beston to the side of the face, causing the 55-year-old grandfather to fall and hit his head on a kerb in Newcastle city centre, the city's crown court heard.

The victim's family said they could never forgive his killer and felt "anger and disgust" Cockram and his accomplices had been able to carry on enjoying their lives.

Now 21, Cockram, who at the time of the killing was on bail for punching two other men on a night out, admitted manslaughter. Lola Charlton and Shayne Cook, both 20, admitted affray.

The trio, who were all 19 at the time, had been drinking at Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse on 26 July 2025 before going to more bars in the city centre, prosecutor Emma Dowling said.

Simon Beston, from Sunderland, and his partner were out for a romantic meal when, at about 22:15 BST they stopped to give money and talk to a homeless couple on St Andrew's Street, the court heard.

As they were talking, a large group of young people "all dressed in racing finery" walked by, among whom were the three defendants, the court heard.

Cockram, of Durham Street in Wallsend, forcefully pushed an unknown man into a parked car, with Cook then punching the man, Dowling said.

Simon Beston intervened and tried to calm the youths down, the court heard, reminding them they were on a night out.

A verbal altercation then broke out between Simon Beston's partner and one of the young women in the group, which culminated with Charlton, of Fairhaven Avenue in Newcastle, grappling the victim's girlfriend to the ground, the court heard.

Simon Beston went to protect his partner and was kicked multiple times by Cook, of Winifred Gardens, Wallsend, and Charlton as he was on the floor, the court heard.

The 55-year-old got up and was "clearly" trying to pacify members of the group, the court heard, with his hands making a "placatory gesture", when Cockram punched him forcefully to the side of the face, the court heard.

The blow fractured the victim's cheekbone and knocked him unconscious, causing him to fall in an "uncontrolled" way and hit his head on the kerb, the court heard.

The attackers then left while Simon Beston's partner, nearby door staff and a nurse on a night out went to his aid, the court heard.

He was found to have suffered a fractured skull and severe brain swelling which led to him dying three weeks later on 16 August at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary, Dowling said.

The court heard Cockram was on police bail at the time having punched two strangers, one of whom was seriously injured, on a night out in Newcastle in April.

Simon Beston's daughter told the court her father was "loving and caring" and "played a significant part" in her and her young daughter's life.

"He always made sure we were happy and had everything," she said. "I think of the future and everything he won't be there for."

His mother said she would "never forget or forgive the person who did this to my son".

She said she still waited to hear her son "opening the front door and shouting 'it's just me mam, do you fancy a cuppa?'".

In a statement read to the court, Simon Beston's partner said she felt "survivor's guilt" and the "horrific" attack had had "devastating consequences".

She said it was supposed to be just an "ordinary romantic evening" but "in one moment everything we had planned and everything I knew was taken away from me".

She said it took four weeks before she felt able to return to their home and found it "heartbreaking" to see her partner's jacket hanging by the front door and his pyjamas awaiting him in a neat pile on their bed.

Any reference to Ladies Day, such as seeing an advert or hearing people talk about it, was now "extremely triggering" for her trauma, she said.

She also said she felt "anger and disgust" at the three attackers continuing their "normal lives" while the consequences of their actions had been so devastating to others.

In mitigation for Cockram, Josh Normanton said the killer, who had moved to the North East to escape domestic violence, was "haunted" by Simon Beston's death.

Charlton had "expressed unrelenting remorse" while Cook believed he had been "protecting a friend" when he kicked the victim three times, the court also heard.

Judge Edward Bindloss said the three were all drunk and without the violent actions of Charlton and Cook, it was "unlikely" Cockram would have launched the fatal punch.

The victim was clearly a "kind-hearted soul" who was "loving and caring", the judge said, adding "many people had been robbed of a future" with "somebody they loved".

Cook was sentenced to 18 months of youth detention while Charlton got nine months, suspended for two years, with 120 hours unpaid work.

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