Man jailed for 12 years killing 65-year-old grandad from Oswaldtwitsle

Preston Crown Court heard how Nathan Scott Williams, 32, told a friend he had gone "into hiding" after beating up 65-year-old Stuart Newton in Oswaldtwistle.

Prosecuting, Andrew Ford QC said police officers were called to Worsley Court in the early hours of the morning on February 13, 2020.

Mr Newton was taken to hospital with serious head injuries, but was pronounced brain dead and was taken off life support the following day.

Mr Ford said: “His family have provided statements. His wife Susan and his daughters Abigail, Becky and Amy.

“His daughter Abigail said this has changed her life. She speaks of her own children’s relationship with him and that he was the man she looked up to.

“Amy said she had never seen her mum like this before, terrified.

Stuart Newton was killed after making a comment about Williams's children

“They had to tell us dad was brain dead and that is a moment that was overwhelming which she will never forget.

“Amy described her father as ‘generous, caring, strong and loving'.

“Susan said he was the only man she ever loved. He was the man with whom she shared three children and had been by her side for 34 years.”

On the night of February 12, Abigail and her partner had been drinking with Williams and his partner.

Mr Newton arrived at Abigail’s home and started drinking with the group before making a comment about having to remind Williams to check on his children.

Williams reacted badly and left the house with Mr Newton following. While outside, Mr Newton was assaulted.

Williams started shouting “I’ve hit him” and Abigail went over to her father, but the group decided against calling an ambulance.

When one was eventually called, the group told authorities the 65-year-old had fallen.

After waking alone in bed, Mr Newton’s wife Susan called her husband’s phone, which was answered by their daughter Abigail.

She told her mother that her dad was injured and went to pick her up.

After arriving at Royal Blackburn Hospital, it was decided Mr Newton needed a higher level of care and was taken to Royal Preston Hospital, where a nurse said his injuries were not from a fall, but instead an assault.

Police at Worsley Court, Oswaldtwistle in February 2020

Williams, now of no fixed address but formerly of Worsley Court, Oswaldtwistle, was arrested the day after Mr Newton had been found and later charged with his murder.

In a prepared statement to police, Williams said he could not remember what happened and said "no comment" in reply to questions about the post-mortem.

The post-mortem revealed the injuries inflicted upon Mr Newton were that of being "stamped and kicked" and that it was not just from punches.

During a murder trial in April 2021, Mr Ford said police discovered a text message sent by Williams to a man named John Smith, at around 2.24am on February 13.

The text read: “Mate, I have gone into hiding, please keep it to yourself.

"I think I have killed Abi’s dad, or put him in a coma, I am going to have to keep hid for a bit.

“Please don’t say anything as people getting told something else and they don’t want anyone else to know.”

Mr Newton’s blood was also found on Williams’s trainers.

In mitigation, Tim Storrie QC said Williams was tackling his drug and alcohol issue in prison and he was keeping in contact with his children.

Mr Storrie said: “To Susan, he wishes it to be said publicly that he regrets the pain and sorrow she feels as a consequence of what he did.”

Williams has been working with rehabilitation services while in prison and is expected to be a "positive" part of his children’s lives upon his release.

Despite attacking Mr Newton, Williams did help carry his body inside with the help of others.

Police at Worsley Court, Oswaldtwistle in February 2020

Mr Storrie added: “At least he didn’t leave him lying in the rain.”

Williams, 32, was due to be retried in January after the jury was unable to reach verdict at his first trial in April 2021 for Mr Newton’s murder.

However, he pleaded guilty to manslaughter when he appeared before The Recorder of Preston Judge Altham at Preston Crown Court on January 17.

Passing sentence, Judge Suzanne Goddard jailed Newton for 12 years and four months for manslaughter.

She said: “It is clear you have done a great deal more than just punch him.

“This was a brutal and forceful attack to a man’s head and carried a high risk of death.

“He was a very loved husband, father, grandfather and by killing him you have blighted the families lives forever.”