A father-of-five who brutally beat a man to death in front of his nine-year-old daughter for trying to steal his son's bike has been jailed.
Andrew Davies launched the savage street attack on 26-year-old Luke Williams, as children, including his own daughter looked on in horror.
Davies' daughter was heard screaming: "Daddy leave him, that's enough."
A passer-by shouted that Davies, 52, would kill his victim if he carried on the vicious onslaught.
But Davies continued to pound Mr Williams to the head as he lay unconscious in the road.
A court heard Davies and Mr Williams were friendly and he had invited him to his home last Christmas.
But as Mr Williams left Davies' house he attempted to take the bike from a passageway.
The pair started fighting and 5ft 5in Mr Williams was seen swinging a rucksack at Davies, who was five inches taller and four stone heavier than him.
Davies quickly overpowered Williams and punched him repeatedly in the face banging his head onto the road.
Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard Davies was heard shouting that Mr Williams had tried to take his son's bike.
Father-of-one Mr Williams died of brain swelling and cardiac arrest three days after the attack last December.
Prosecutor Jonathan Rees said: "It was a punishment beating in the presence of children.
"There was quite a difference in size between the two men - Davies had no difficulty in overpowering Luke Williams."
Davies, described as a "family man" of Aberaman, Aberdare, South Wales, was jailed for nine years after admitting manslaughter.
Judge Rhys Rowlands told him: "You struck heavy blows with your fists and ignored pleas to stop, one from someone saying you would kill him if you carried on."
Mr Williams was due to be sentenced for a serious assault at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court the day after he was attacked.
He was part of a gang that kidnapped a man, beat him up and poured bleach over him in a bath.
His two co-defendants were jailed for their part in the kidnap.
Mr Williams's mother Paula Jenkins said: "Luke was no angel but he was trying to turn his life around,
"Every day I wake up in a nightmare - I just want my son back."
Detective Inspector David Butt, said after the case: "It was a shocking incident which occurred in full view of the public and left local people frightened.
"Andrew Davies will now spend a considerable time behind bars for his actions which took a precious life away from a family."
