A MAN who became embroiled in a city centre row that ended with the tragic death of innocent passer-by has been spared jail.
Instead, Steven Lamb, 28, of Victoria Crescent, was handed an 18 month community order, a six-month curfew, told to complete 100 hours unpaid work and attend an aggression replacement programme.
Chelmsford Crown Court was told that Lamb, who pleaded guilty to affray, was seen arguing with a couple in Duke Street at 3am on August 19 last year after a night drinking in the city.
Urim Rama, an Albanian passer-by, and his friends attempted to calm matters down but Lamb's friend Jamie Waters fatally punched the 27-year-old.
The single blow knocked him to the ground and he suffered a brain stem injury, with doctors eventually deciding to turn off his life support machine.
Judge Patrick O'Brien told Lamb: "You have to address your excessive drinking."
Last November his friend Waters, 30, from Canvey Island, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Prosecutor Ramesh Khanda said Lamb had been out with Waters and had been drinking in pubs around the city.
At around 3am, Lamb got involved in a row with a couple in Duke Street and Mr Rama and his friends intervened and told him to calm down, he said.
Words were exchanged and a short while later Waters punched Mr Rama once.
The court heard that Lamb was not involved in that incident and was devastated by what had happened.
Mitigating, Richard Conley said there had not been any threats made to Mr Rama's group during the incident.
Lamb played no part in the events that led to his unfortunate death, he added.
"He got outrageously drunk and tried to pick a fight with someone but as to what happened subsequently, he played no part and was devastated at what happened," said Mr Conley.
Chelmsford Crown Court was told that Lamb, who pleaded guilty to affray, was seen arguing with a couple in Duke Street at 3am on August 19 last year after a night drinking in the city.
Urim Rama, an Albanian passer-by, and his friends attempted to calm matters down but Lamb's friend Jamie Waters fatally punched the 27-year-old.
The single blow knocked him to the ground and he suffered a brain stem injury, with doctors eventually deciding to turn off his life support machine.
Judge Patrick O'Brien told Lamb: "You have to address your excessive drinking."
Last November his friend Waters, 30, from Canvey Island, was jailed for five years after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
Prosecutor Ramesh Khanda said Lamb had been out with Waters and had been drinking in pubs around the city.
At around 3am, Lamb got involved in a row with a couple in Duke Street and Mr Rama and his friends intervened and told him to calm down, he said.
Words were exchanged and a short while later Waters punched Mr Rama once.
The court heard that Lamb was not involved in that incident and was devastated by what had happened.
Mitigating, Richard Conley said there had not been any threats made to Mr Rama's group during the incident.
Lamb played no part in the events that led to his unfortunate death, he added.
"He got outrageously drunk and tried to pick a fight with someone but as to what happened subsequently, he played no part and was devastated at what happened," said Mr Conley.
