Man threw brick which killed his own father

A man has been jailed for manslaughter after throwing a brick that hit his dad and killed him.

Thomas Dear, 20, denied murdering his father, named Thomas Dear senior, but pleaded guilty to manslaughter during an appearance at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (10 December).

He was then jailed for three years and four months on Monday (15 December) – a sentence he will serve at a young offenders’ institution.

On 16 June this year, Dear, of no fixed address, threw a brick through his father’s open van window in what he claimed was an act of self-defence.

Dear maintained his dad drove the vehicle in his direction, in Windsor Road, Newark, and that this prompted him to throw the brick to try and stop him.

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The brick then hit his 38-year-old father in the head, resulting in a large forehead laceration.

After this, the father drove away from the scene.

A while later whilst he drove down Lombard Street, he suffered a cardiac arrest at the roadside.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics who arrived shortly after, Thomas Dear senior was pronounced dead at the scene just before 6pm.

Before the fatal assault, the pair were captured on CCTV across the local area in a prolonged argument, which involved the son throwing pieces of a broken plant pot at his father, with Dear then approaching his son wielding a garden fork.

A Home Office pathologist who conducted a post-mortem examination linked the head injury sustained from the brick throw to the cardiac seizure that led to Dear’s death.

Detective Chief Inspector Ruby Burrow, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Whilst Dear may not have set out to intentionally kill his father, his dangerous and deliberate actions have resulted in the most devastating and irreversible of consequences.

“The impact on Mr Dear’s family and friends has been simply immeasurable, having to endure the loss of a loved one in such sudden and traumatic circumstances.

“I hope the conclusion of this investigation and subsequent court process will help to bring some closure.

“We know this case caused a lot of community interest across Newark, and I want to make it clear that we will always act in the interest of the victim and ensure justice is done.

“I would also like to take this time thank the investigation team who worked incredibly hard on what was a complex case, as well as witnesses whose testimonies were vital in us progressing the investigation.”