Serving soldier from Cottesmore in Rutland killed in one punch attack with Northumberland teenager jailed for 6 years for manslaughter

A teenager has been jailed for six years – after a one-punch attack killed a much-loved father of four and serving soldier.

Corporal Shaun ‘Robbo’ Roberts, 35, a sniper in the Royal Anglian Regiment based in Cottesmore, died in hospital a month after being attacked in Blyth, Northumberland.

The man who delivered the fatal blow - Mason Ibbotson - was captured on camera throwing his hands in the air in celebration and hugging someone, before running away.

The incident happened at about 3.15am on Sunday, October 6, outside of Déjà Vu nightclub. Police received reports of a fight involving multiple people and arrived to find Cpl Roberts unresponsive with a serious head injury.

He was rushed to hospital in a life-threatening condition and placed in a critical care unit. He died on November 1, after his life-support was withdrawn.

Ibbotson, aged 18, was arrested and taken into police custody the morning after the assault on suspicion of unlawful wounding.

Witnesses after the attack described overhearing a male matching his description say: “I’ve got blood on my hands. I think I’ve just killed someone.”

He was charged with the offence upgraded to manslaughter after Cpl Roberts died.

Ibbotson, of Norham Close in Blyth, pleaded guilty to the charge at Mid and South East Magistrates’ Court on December 16.

Yesterday (Monday) he appeared before a judge at Newcastle Crown Court who sentenced him to six years in prison.

The hearing heard that Cpl Roberts had served in Afghanistan and been mentioned in dispatches for risking his own life to save fellow soldiers under heavy fire.

During the hearing, a statement was read out from his wife, Ellys Roberts, speaking of her family’s pain.

She said: “From that day, none of our lives were ever the same. I couldn’t tell our children if their Daddy would wake up, or if they’d ever be able to speak to him again.”

Ellys described her husband as a devoted father of four children, and “one of the most selfless people” she had ever met.

Following a tough start in life, she said that “as an adult his family, friends and career were his pride and joy” and he would step back into “Dad mode” after weeks of working away.

She spoke of Robbo’s bravery, including a time he was praised for running into the line of fire to save a fellow soldier, and that she was “always in awe” of him putting everyone first.

In the aftermath of the attack, Ellys said, that “having to sit at his bedside for weeks not knowing what our future as a family held was mental torture” while knowing his injuries were “life-changing from the start”.

When his life-support was withdrawn, she spoke of her devastation knowing his “body was healthy” but that “his brain has stopped him from waking up”.

Ellys added: “I have to sit with my children and explain to them repeatedly what happened to their Daddy, this is on a daily and nightly basis because of their ages they all have a different understanding.

“I know I will be answering these questions for years to come, and as a family we will have to keep reliving the heartbreak.

“It doesn’t feel real that he is never coming back. The loss of Robbo will be felt by so many of us for the rest of all our lives and no sentence will ever make any of this easier or bring him back.”

Speaking after the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Fenney, of Northumbria Police, said: “No result will change or reverse the tragic events leading to Robbo’s senseless death – and our thoughts remain with Ellys, and all of his loved ones as they try to navigate life without him.

“This is unfortunately yet another sad case that highlights the potential consequences of choosing violence, instead of just walking away.

“Ibbotson made a decision to act in such a manner – and now as a result of one single punch, he has destroyed countless lives forever.

“Not only that, but Ibbotson’s immediate response to causing someone such harm was to celebrate and cheer in the street – while his victim lay on the ground unconscious.

“This comes as a timely reminder to those who are out socialising and may face scenarios involving conflict, which in this case has led to devastation.

“Do not allow a split-second wrong decision to become a life-long regret.”