A man brutally punched his disabled victim down a flight of stairs at a hostel in Salford then said 'I don't care if he dies', a court heard.
Lee Oates suffered a severe head injury after he was attacked by Jack Kent on September 26 last year.
The 49-year-old, who had spina bifida and was described by his family as someone who was 'never a fighter', tragically died of his injuries in hospital a week later.
After he was arrested, 21-year-old Kent told police officers: 'I don't care if he dies' and 'it was his own f*****g fault'.
He has now been jailed for more than eight years.
Manchester Crown Court heard today (February 11) how both Kent and his victim had been living at the The Sash Project hostel on Leicester Road in September 2020.
Kent had been ordered to stay there after being released on licence from prison for assaulting three emergency workers.
But Mr Oates had been only been staying there for around six weeks and was only moved to the hostel because of problems with his own accommodation.
About a month before his death, the victim told staff at the hostel that Kent had stolen cigarettes from his room, the court heard.
Then on the evening of September 26, Mr Oates questioned the defendant about where his tobacco was.
He called him a 'thieving little b*****d' and threatened to 'smash his face in'.
But Mr Oates didn't act on his threat and instead asked staff if he could look at CCTV footage from his room, the court was told.
"He then began walking up some steep stairs towards his room", prosecutor Nick Johnson said.
"At this point, the defendant and another resident at the hostel walked into the hallway.
"Mr Oates stopped himself half way up the stairs and shouted to give him his cigarettes."
The court heard how the defendant then threatened to stab his victim.
Mr Oates threw some baked beans at Kent from the eighth or ninth step on the flight of stairs.
This caused him to react, 'true to his explosive character', and he ran up the stairs and started swinging punches at Mr Oates.
His attack on lasted for about 12 seconds before one punch caused his 'vulnerable victim' to fall down the flight of the stairs.
The incident was captured on CCTV inside the hostel. It showed Mr Oates fall to the ground without touching his feet to the floor.
He fell hard on his head and was left lying on the ground by Kent.
Mr Oates was taken to Salford Royal Hospital where a CT scan showed he had suffered a severe head injury including multiple skull fractures.
Mr Oates was transferred to intensive care but his condition deteriorated and a decision was made to put him on end of life care.
In a statement read to the court, his family said he was 'never a fighter'.
They said he was born with spina bifada which meant he had to have surgery at an early age.
At around the age of 30, he started suffering with mental health issues and at times, he struggled with substance abuse, the court heard.
He loved animals and would 'help anybody'.
His family said: "Lee's childlike manner was one of his most endearing qualities. The absence of his presence is overwhelming.
"Our lives will never be the same again."
Kent was initially arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault but was charged with murder after Mr Oates died.
The court heard how on February 1, the defendant was due to appear at court for a plea and trial preparation hearing.
But he told a prison officer he 'couldn't be a***d' to come to court and wouldn't leave his cell.
Defending, Benjamin Knight said his client - who has 23 previous convictions - is 'remarkably emotionally immature'.
He told the court how Kent grew up in care from the age of five which has left his self-esteem 'astonishingly low'.
Mr Knight also said the defendant has a tendency to 'react first and think later' and struggles with anger management.
Kent, of Leicester Road, Salford, pleaded guilty to manslaughter after the prosecution said they would accept this plea.
He was today jailed for eight years and four months.
Sentencing, Judge Anthony Cross said: "You were not scared of your victim. It would have been obvious to you that he was disabled. He was also twice your age.
"You had the comfort of knowing that you could use your fists and your aggression to deal with him.
"I am satisfied that your unlawful actions caused a high risk of grievous bodily harm to the victim.
"You showed no concern for your victim let alone any awareness for what you had done."
After the sentencing, DC Katie Halstead, of GMP's Salford district, said: "In this case, an argument escalated and resulted in a man's death. Kent was undeniably violent towards Lee.
"Our thoughts remain with Lee's loved ones, who have been devastated.
"I hope this case warns violent individuals that their behaviour can have devastating consequences and won't be tolerated by the Police, Crown Prosecution Service or the Courts."
