Scottish man jailed for killing pub-goer with one punch after a game of pool

An attacker who killed a man with a single punch after a game of pool in a bar has been jailed for more than five years.

Thomas Allan, 52, assaulted Jason Haig at a pub in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, on September 2 last year.

He punched Mr Haig, 45, who fell backwards and hit his head on the hard floor.

Mr Haig suffered injuries including a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

Screengrab from handout CCTV footage issued by the Crown Office of Thomas Allan, following an incident in which he assaulted Jason Haig, who later died from his injuries, at a pub in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire picture: Crown Office

Allan, from Glasgow, pleaded guilty to a charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Glasgow on December 17 last year.

He was sentenced today at the High Court in Edinburgh to five years and four months behind bars, the Crown Office said.

Allan approached Mr Haig, while holding his pool cue in his right hand, spoke to him for a few seconds, then struck him on the face once with his left hand and Mr Haig fell backwards.

David Green, procurator fiscal for homicide and major crime, said: "A single punch has had catastrophic consequences.

"This type of attack is just as lethal as an assault with a weapon and any instance of a punch to the head can have the kind of ramifications that we have tragically seen with this case.

"The unintended consequences of Thomas Allan's actions should serve as a stark warning that one punch can kill."