Gordon Robson , 26 , killed grandfather John Potts , 45 , with a single punch to the back of the head that was so hard it made an 'audible crack ' A thug who was drunk after his grandfather 's funeral killed a devoted father with a single punch after he stepped in to break up a fight outside a sports bar . Newcastle Crown Court heard that Gordon Robson , 26 , hit father John Potts , 45 , in the back of the head so hard there was an 'audible crack ' before he fell down dead . Robson , who has a history of violent offending , was jailed for just three and a half years for the attack outside the NE38 Sports Bar in Washington , Tyne and Wear , in November last year . The court was told that Robson had been drinking at the bar after being a pallbearer at his grandfather 's funeral before getting into an argument with a friend of Mr Potts . Fighting broke out after the bar closed , and Mr Potts , a father-of-six and grandfather-of-one who was described by his sister as ' a big softie ' , stepped in to stop it . Prosecutor Nick Dry told the court : 'At this point the defendant punched Mr Potts , who had been trying to calm matters down and was actually facing the other way when the blow was struck . 'The punch made a loud crack , witnesses turned to see him falling to the ground , making no attempt to break his fall . ' The court heard despite intervention from the emergency services , Mr Potts could not be saved . Mr Dry added : 'Mr Potts had been minding his own business . He was an innocent bystander who sought only to calm the situation down . ' Mr Potts ' widow Sarah said his death had a 'devastating impact ' on the family . She said Mr Potts ' stepchildren and eight-year-old daughter , Emma , now fear their family wo n't come back whenever they leave the house . Mr Dry added : 'She said he was a father who never judged her , he was just her dad and hero . ' Mr Potts ' sisters said in their statements the 'life and soul has been ripped from their family ' and described their brother as a 'big softie ' . Mr Potts ' brother George said he wakes every Sunday at 5.30am , the time he was informed of his siblings death , and feels life has been changed forever . Robson had been drinking at the NE38 Sports Bar in Washington , Tyne and Wear , after his grandfather 's funeral when fighting broke out . Mr Potts , described as a 'big softie ' , was killed when he tried to intervene . Judge Paul Sloan QC jailed Robson , of Waskerley Way , Washington , Tyne and Wear , who admitted manslaughter , to three-and-a-half years behind bars . The judge told Robson : 'Mr Potts was trying to calm the situation . He was acting as a peacemaker . 'It is clear Mr Potts was a devoted father and step-father . It is also clear his death has had a profound effect upon his family . 'No sentence imposed upon you could ever serve to ease the pain of Mr Potts ' family . ' I accept you are genuinely remorseful and I accept you will carry the guilt with you for the rest of your life for what you did that night . ' Robson accepted he 'misinterpreted ' Mr Robson 's actions that night , when his already emotional state had been heightened by alcohol , and realises now he should not have hit him . Bob Spragg , defending , said Robson , who has a history of violent offending dating back to when he was just 14 , had turned his life around after his last prison sentence . He added that Robson had also found himself a partner who is about to give birth . Mr Spragg said : 'Absolutely no blame attaches to Mr Potts for anything that happened to him . 'Once the defendant has served his sentence he will return to being a law abiding citizen but will have to live with what he has done for the rest of his life . '
Gordon Robson , 26 , was drinking at Wear , in Tyne and Wear . Court heard he was emotional after being pallbearer at grandad 's funeral . Got into fight with friend of victim John Potts , and punches were thrown . When Mr Potts stepped in he was hit in the back of the head and killed . Robson , who has long history of violent offending , jailed for three years .