Stepdad died months after he was punched

Stepson pleaded guilty after eventually being charged with manslaughter

- ANDREW BARDSLEY

A MECHANIC killed his stepdad after punching him during a family row.

Bradleigh Shepherd hit 42-year-old Stephen Rimmer in the face after intervening in an argument.

He struck Mr Rimmer with such force that he suffered a broken jaw. When he went to hospital, Mr Rimmer, a forklift truck driver who was described as a 'gentle giant' by his family, had a cardiac arrest and never recovered.

He was placed into an induced coma and died seven months later. His heartbroken family told of the 'hell' they have endured in the time since the attack.

Now Shepherd, 25, has been jailed for three years and two months after admitting manslaughter. Minshull Street Crown Court heard how Mr Rimmer was in a relationship with Shepherd's mother. Shepherd said he regarded Mr Rimmer as a 'stepfather' and they used to have a drink together.

It was said that the relationship between Mr Rimmer and Shepherd's mother could be 'volatile!

The pair had been drinking on August 15, 2019, when Shepherd returned to their home in Culvert Street, Rochdale.