21 April 2023 , 18:01
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The is the shocking moment an 'idiot' punched a millionaire banker to death over a misunderstanding outside a trendy London restaurant, as the victim's 'traumatised' family slam the judge's 'insulting' sentence.
Drunk electrician Steven Allan wrongly believed Paul Mason had taken his friend's mobile phone and attacked him as he left the Ivy Club in London's West End.
The 52-year-old, a boss at Qatar National Bank, was set upon in the street after enjoying an evening with friends at the exclusive private members' club in Soho, on December 15 2020.
On Friday, the Metropolitan Police released graphic CCTV footage of the attack as the video showed Allan approaching Mr Mason, who makes a grab for his phone.
Mr Mason appeared to turn the other cheek and walk away, only to be pursued by Allan who ran up behind him and punched him to the ground.
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Paul Mason, 52, died as a result of the attack in the street (Rachel Mason/SurreyLive/BPM)As he attempted to get up, Allan punched him a second time.
Once on his feet again, the defendant delivered an upper cut which "poleaxed" Mr Mason and sent him flying to the pavement on his back.
The CCTV, which had been viewed by jurors in Allan's trial, showed Mr Mason lying unconscious on the ground before a group of off-duty critical care nurses rushed to his aid.
The whole incident took just 12 seconds.
Mr Mason had suffered serious head injuries, from which he died six months later.
Steven Allan punched the banker several times over a misunderstanding over a mobile phone (PA)
Mr Mason's family are furious with the sentence handed downAllan, 35, from Hook in Hampshire, had admitted the manslaughter and was cleared of the more serious offence of murder after a trial.
On Thursday, Allan was jailed at the Old Bailey for three years and nine months.
During the sentencing, Mr Mason's family blamed Allan for a double tragedy as they told how his vulnerable brother died by suicide three months after his death.
Mr Mason was made a freeman of the City of London for charitable works.
CCTV shows the poleaxed man after his was punched in the street (PA)His family described him as a "remarkably kind, decent, gentle soul" who was successful in all aspects of his life.
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Sentencing, Judge Michael Topolski KC had said: "The circumstances that led to the defendant causing the death of a perfectly respectable, wholly innocent stranger who happened to be passing by are as extraordinary as they are tragic."
Speaking in the aftermath of the trial, Mr Mason’s sister, Rachel, said she had been left “stunned” by the judge’s sentencing.
Allan described himself as an "absolute idiot"
He was attacked outside The Ivy in London in December 2020She said it was unacceptable Allan would be released so soon given the severity of his actions and would be appealing the sentencing alongside the Crown Prosecution Service and the Metropolitan Police.
“It’s insulting to us, to Paul’s memory, to the wider society,” she said. “What is it that makes it OK that somebody only spends that amount of time in prison and they’ve killed someone? You’d get more for tax evasion.
"This was not a one-punch killing. He punched him three times, the level of violence in a public place filled by alcohol; the sentencing does not reflect the severity of his actions and what message does that give to society?
“We're still traumatised by it. We hoped once he was in prison we would be able to move forward but this has just made it so much more difficult. It’s just wrong.”