A judge remarked that a jockey could have simply left the scene as he handed down a three-year jail sentence for the manslaughter of a pensioner whom he punched outside a pub. Levi Williams, 27, was sentenced for the death of Richard Wingrove, 71, in Newmarket, Suffolk, who passed away in the hospital ten days after the incident.
According to prosecutor Jane Oldfield at Peterborough Crown Court, on March 8, 2025, Mr. Wingrove and his son Jamie Wingrove, who used a walking stick, had been drinking in Newmarket’s high street pubs. Both Wingroves were asked to leave the Waggon and Horses establishment due to disorderly behavior towards the staff.
Williams, accompanied by his friend Matthew Wilson, was present at the pub during the altercations. CCTV footage presented in court showed a physical altercation between Jamie Wingrove and the pub owner at the pub’s entrance. Later, as the jockeys exited the establishment, a verbal exchange ensued between Williams and the Wingroves, resulting in physical confrontation.
The altercation escalated, leading Williams to punch Richard Wingrove, causing him to fall and hit his head on the pavement. Mr. Wingrove succumbed to his injuries in the hospital ten days later. Williams, who was found to be under the influence of alcohol and cocaine, claimed self-defense and feeling threatened during the encounter.
During sentencing, Judge Sean Enright acknowledged that Williams was not the initial aggressor but criticized his actions, stating that he and his friend could have walked away instead of escalating the situation. Williams was sentenced to three years in prison for his actions that led to the death of a vulnerable man.
The courtroom witnessed emotional scenes as Williams was taken into custody. Louisa Reah, Mr. Wingrove’s daughter, expressed the deep impact of her father’s death in her victim impact statement. Detective Constable Hannah Barrett highlighted the tragic nature of the incident, emphasizing that Richard Wingrove’s death was a senseless act of violence that caused immense grief to many.
