Outcry over ‘paltry’ five-year prison term for thug who killed father who accused him of jumping Sainsbury’s queue as Tories accuse Labour of ‘soft sentencing’

A ‘paltry’ five-year prison term for a thug who killed a father has led the Tories to accuse Labour of ‘soft sentencing’. 

Demiesh Williams, 30, beat Andrew Clark to death following an argument over queue jumping at a supermarket in Beckenham, south-east London.

Today, Williams was sentenced to five years and three months in prison following the death of Andrew Clark, who was hailed as a ‘hard-working family man’.

The surprisingly short sentence for Williams has led to a widespread public outcry with shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick describing it as ‘paltry’.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Jenrick said: ‘Williams committed an appalling crime and yet his prison sentence is paltry. 

‘A five year sentence, reduced further under the early release scheme, is not justice. I am writing to the Attorney General asking that it is reconsidered.’ 

The Daily Mail understands that Mr Jenrick is going to appeal Williams’s sentence.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Mr Clark had challenged the defendant when he tried to queue jump at the tills.

Bus driver Williams then left the shop and went to a car but, as seen on CCTV, decided to go back and confront Mr Clark.

The court was told the attacker then slapped his victim with an open hand, causing him to fall to the ground.

Mr Clark died three days later of his injuries, after being declared brain dead.

Williams later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was jailed this morning.

Judge Andrew Lees said: ‘Andrew Clark was 43 at the time of his death. He was a hard-working family man.

‘I have heard heartfelt statements read to the court by Andrew’s wife and his sister. What the family said in court brings home the magnitude of what has happened and the devastating loss and consequences of your actions.

‘The family are dealing with unimaginable grief from which recovery is unlikely to ever be complete. By all accounts Andrew Clark was much loved, much respected, and will be much missed, and it should never have happened.’

He told the defendant: ‘Demiesh Williams, for the manslaughter of Andrew Clark the sentence of the court is five years and three months.

‘You will serve up to two thirds of that sentence in prison thereafter you will be released subject to licence conditions. If you breach your licence conditions you will be recalled to prison.’

Mr Clark’s 14-year-old daughter previously told Williams that though he would one day walk free, he had ‘destroyed’ her family in the ‘cruellest way possible’.

In a statement read to the court by her aunt, she said: ‘My dad was not just my dad. He was my best friend. We did everything together.’

She addressed the killer, saying: ‘You did this to my dad. My dad was the most generous man I know. I don’t want to live my life without him. 

‘You got to keep your family, while you destroyed mine in the cruellest way.’

And Mr Clark’s wife Cairistine read her impact statement in court, asking the killer: ‘What type of man choses to kill rather than simply walking away?

‘You are a coward. You are a killer. You are a monster.’

The court heard Mr Clark, a Newcastle United fan, had watched his club’s Carabao Cup victory on March 16 with his family at home in Beckenham, south-east London.

Alistair Richardson, prosecuting, told the court the victim and his wife went to the Sainsbury’s near their home to buy some food for the following day after the match.

Mrs Clark then found her husband arguing with Williams at the tills, it was said.

Witnesses described seeing Williams walk to his parked car, get something out, and return to the store with a face covering on as Mr Clark was leaving.

Mr Richardson continued: ‘Mrs Clark saw the defendant coming towards her husband. He was striding with intent – striding towards him.

‘He had a face covering on. He hit Mr Clark on the side of his head. All she could hear was the noise.

‘He did not try to break his fall or anything. He was just knocked out.’

Mr Richardson added that an experienced CCTV officer viewed the footage of the attack and deemed it a ‘slap’ with an ‘open hand’ rather than a punch.

Another witness, using a nearby cash machine, said he heard a ‘crack’ as Mr Clark’s head hit the floor, followed by Williams saying: ‘I told you to f****** apologise’.

Mr Clark was rushed to the hospital but died three days later from a ‘catastrophic’ brain injury.

Williams, a father of three, was later arrested at a house in Croydon, south London, and charged two days later.

He denied murder but later admitted manslaughter at Woolwich Crown Court. He will serve two thirds of the five years and three months before he is released on licence.

Afterwards, Mr Clark’s family said today in a statement: ‘Today’s sentence brings some degree of closure after an unimaginably painful nine months for our family.

‘Andrew’s loss has had a profound impact on each of us and we continue to live with the consequences of his absence every day

‘For us as a family this prosecution has exposed serious shortcomings within our outdated justice system.

‘Victims are too often left without the protection, transparency and fairness they deserve.

‘An archaic legal framework cannot meet the demands of modern society nor the needs of victims, their families, friends and wider communities.

‘Over-crowded and underfunded prisons place pressure on courts to sentence based on capacity rather than justice.

‘Without genuine accountability, true justice and meaningful reform, reoffending will continue and many more families may face the same devastation we have.

‘Andrew will always be remembered for his kindness, generosity, humour and love.’