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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Sion Morgan

The CCTV footage killer tried to dump after brutal pub attack which killed charity worker

Footage of the moments leading up to the death of Mark Bloomfield can now be shared after his killer was locked up for life.

Martial arts expert Colin Thomas Payne was unanimously convicted by a jury of murder on Wednesday.

The 61-year-old tried to throw away this CCTV footage just minutes after carrying out a brutal attack on his victim who died two days later.

You can recap the entire trial as it happened here .

Payne admitted the manslaughter of charity worker Mark Bloomfield after the assault near the Full Moon pub in High Street on July 18 this year.

On Thursday a judge ordered Payne spend at least 15 years of his life sentence behind bars for the "cowardly" killing.

During his trial prosecutor Christopher Clee QC described how the defendant – who advertised himself as a bodyguard and combat instructor with skills in jujitsu, combat judo, and third dan martial arts – carried out the killing after a drink being held by Mr Bloomfield touched the back of Payne's partner Jenny Harding.

Payne then grabbed the 54-year-old charity worker by the throat before taking him to the ground and kicking him in the head as he lay on the floor.

The court heard Mr Bloomfield picked up his bag and left the pub and the defendant followed him "spoiling for a fight" before “delivering two powerful blows in quick succession” which knocked Mr Bloomfield to the ground. He died in hospital from his injuries.

Colin Payne (South Wales Police)
Jurors have been shown CCTV footage of Payne assaulting Mark Bloomfield (pictured), which he claims was in self-defence of his partner (South Wales Police)

Payne denied murder but was convicted unanimously by a jury following an hour of deliberation.

Payne had also previously admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by going back into the pub following the violent attack and watching the incident back on the bar's CCTV before removing the footage and dumping it.

Mr Bloomfield had carried out charity work around the globe, including India and Africa, and had worked as a special assistant to Mother Teresa in Calcutta.

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