Man guilty of manslaughter after grandfather dies in pub attack

A single punch outside a village pub left 66-year-old David Darke dead six days later, and a jury has now found Nathan Gothard guilty of manslaughter over the attack.

Gothard, 37, of Church Street in Appleby Magna, was cleared of murder at Leicester Crown Court but convicted of manslaughter after the fatal confrontation outside The Crown Inn in Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, on 21 December 2025. Darke, a grandfather of three boys and father of three daughters, died in hospital after sustaining a serious head injury.

The court heard that Gothard arrived at the pub about 4pm and later became disruptive as the evening wore on. Around 7pm, a Christmas party group of about 10 people arrived from the Best Western hotel on the other side of the village, and the atmosphere outside and around the pub turned tense. The landlady and her partner stepped in, tried to calm the situation and attempted to escort Gothard away before the confrontation escalated further.

Prosecutors said Gothard went back outside looking for more trouble after being removed from the pub. In the final moments before Darke’s collapse, the jury heard that Darke had helped Gothard up after an earlier fight, only for Gothard to strike him again. Darke fell backwards, hit the ground and cracked his skull.

Inquest evidence reported in court found that Darke died from serious head injuries after being punched and falling backwards onto the floor. He died six days after the assault, in hospital, turning what began as an alcohol-fuelled disturbance into a fatal case that now stands as a stark warning for police, prosecutors and the courts: in pub violence, the violence that looks minor in the moment can carry lethal consequences.

Darke’s family described him as a deeply loved father and devoted family man, and court reports said they reacted visibly when the verdict was returned. Gothard is due to be sentenced on 22 May 2026 at Leicester Crown Court.