Builder jailed for six years for manslaughter of Strictly Come Dancing technician (From This Is Local London)

Welling man Ben Worden jailed for six years for manslaughter of Strictly Come Dancing lighting technician Paul Gunner in Bexley

3:19pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Jim Palmer

A WELLING man has been jailed for six years for delivering a fatal punch in a Bexley Village kebab shop argument.

Ben Worden, aged 33, of Wickham Street in Welling was found guilty of the manslaughter of Strictly Come Dancing Lighting Technician Paul Gunner at Inner London Crown Court on Friday (September 28).

Mr Gunner had been celebrating his 32nd birthday in Bexley Village when, at around 1am on October 16 last year, he was punched at least twice by builder Worden, whom he had never met.

Witness Clive Williams said Mr Gunner “spun around and fell back into the road” and his head hitting the tarmac sounded like “a plate being broken”.

Mr Gunner never regained consciousness.

During the three-week trial, the jury heard that Worden walked away boasting to a group of girls: “I just smashed someone up – look at my knuckles.”

The altercation occurred when Worden, who had been drinking heavily and had been involved in another argument earlier in the night, took exception to Mr Gunner banging on the window of

Charcoal Grill in Bourne Road to attract the attention of his brother.

After a brief argument, Worden hit Mr Gunner knocking him to the ground.

Mr Gunner got to his feet and followed Worden who hit him again.

Prosecutor Timothy Cray said Worden’s actions amounted to “thuggish behaviour – random street violence at the end of the night that had the most tragic consequences.”

Throughout the trial Worden claimed he only threw one punch and that the fatal blow was delivered by one of his friends.

But Mr Cray accused Worden of "telling a lot of lies to disguise your involvement because it was you waiting for Paul Gunner stumbling up the road."

Detective Inspector Rick Murphy, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "Paul Gunner was enjoying a birthday celebration when he fell victim to this senseless and brutal attack.

"It is shocking that such an innocuous dispute could be met with this level of violence and have such tragic consequences for Mr Gunner's friends and family. It is right that Worden should face the consequences of his actions."