A 16-YEAR-OLD who killed a grandad in a street attack has been sentenced to three years' detention.

A court heard that the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, punched Eric Conwell, of Normandy Crescent, Radcliffe, twice in the head, causing him to fall to the ground.

The 68-year-old died five months later at Chestnut Court Nursing Home, Bury, after suffering complications resulting from his head injuries.

Mr Conwell's wife was terminally ill at the time. She died two months after the incident.

Liverpool Crown Court heard how Mr Conwell was walking home from a bowls presentation evening at St Mary's Social Club in Radcliffe in April last year with a friend, Paul Stubbs, when the came upon a group of youths.

Mr Stubbs, walked round the five-strong group in Water Street, Radcliffe, but Mr Conwell walked straight through them.

One of the girls in the group said something and Mr Conwell turned and grabbed hold of her.

At that stage, the defendant, then aged 15, intervened to defend her but a jury, which convicted him of manslaughter after a trial at Manchester Crown Court in March, decided that his actions were out of proportion to the situation.

He struck Mr Conwell twice and, when he fell to the floor, the boy stood over him in an aggressive stance with his fist raised.

Sentencing him to three years' detention, Mr Justice McCombe said that only a custodial sentence was appropriate.

While in care, he had committed a string of offences involving common assaults on care workers, dishonesty and motoring offences.

Roderick Carus QC, defending, said: "He did not intend to cause serious bodily harm and he has said he is sorry for what happened. He feels deeply the consequences of what happened that night."

The boy, who could not be named for legal reasons, is currently serving a seven-month term for assault and breaching a detention and training order.

The judge refused a media request to lift an order banning the boy's identity being revealed. He said it did not serve any public interest.