THE widow of a Basingstoke dad killed by a drunken punch has spoken of the heartache her family has suffered - and urged people to heed the tragic consequences of alcohol-fuelled violence.

Father-of-three Alan Clement, 38, was an innocent bystander during a scuffle outside Liquid nightclub in Festival Place when he was killed by Alexander Kane. The judge told Kane it was an act of "quite gratuitous violence on your part, drunk as you were".

After seeing 24-year-old Kane jailed at Winchester Crown Court last Thursday, Mr Clement's wife of 13 years, Tracie, said: "Just one punch led to my husband's death, and our three girls have been left without a dad.

"I really hope people take note of what has happened. Even if just one person does, and walks away from a fight, then that would be something."

The tragedy involving lorry driver Mr Clement, from Osborne Close, Oakridge, happened when he was on a monthly night out with work colleagues from the SCS furniture store.

The court heard he had not been the intended target of Kane's punch, which was thrown during an argument in the street at closing time on November 27.

The man it had been aimed at dodged the blow and instead it felled Mr Clement, who was standing behind. He suffered fatal head injuries as he hit the pavement.

Kane, of Coleman Close, Oakridge, Basingstoke, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison by Mr Justice Davis after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Giving her verdict on the sentence, Mrs Clement, 34, said: "To be handed two-and-a-half years for taking a life is not good enough. It is politicians who set the sentencing guidelines and perhaps they need to look at this type of case again.

"If you take a life, you should be given a life sentence. We knew Kane would not get that, but his sentence seems really unfair when there are three children who have got to live without their dad."

Mrs Clement said her daughters Ellie, three, Courtney, seven, and Natalie, 12, had been devastated by the loss of their father, who she described as a kind, funny, generous, happy and loving family man.

"He always put his girls first - they meant everything to him," said Mrs Clement. "Ellie still asks for him and cries every day, which is heart-wrenching.

"All three of my girls were daddy's girls, and it's been very hard for them and for me. The girls take it hard if I cry, so I've had to be strong for them."

Referring to people who get involved in drunken fights, Mrs Clement said: "These young lads and girls have no idea what this has done to me and my family. They go out and get beered up and throw their weight around and have no idea of the possible consequences."

Mr Clement's brother, Leonard, 40, from Eltham, London, also believes Kane's sentence should have been longer. "I'm angry and disappointed in the justice system," he added.

Detective Superintendent Alan Betts, of Hampshire police, told The Gazette: "This tragic case is a powerful reminder to all that it can take only one punch to kill a person.

"This has a devastating impact on so many lives - the victim, the victim's family, and the person who delivered the fatal blow. If they could foresee the dire consequences of their actions, I am certain that this would never happen."

Mrs Clement thanked her friends, family and the police for their support and also a man - who she only knows as Adam - for giving first aid to her husband at the scene of the tragedy.

As The Gazette reported in January, the people of Basingstoke pulled out all the stops to raise money in memory of Mr Clement.

Mrs Clement said she was particularly grateful to her friend Maxine Stevens, from Brighton Hill, who set up the Alan Clement Fund and raised £100. Mrs Stevens also persuaded her employers at Pacific Computers in Basingstoke to donate £500.

A collection by staff at McCarthy's Bar in Church Street, Basingstoke, raised £340 for Mrs Clement and her children at Christmas, and staff at SCS furniture store, where Mr Clement worked, raised £400.

Mrs Clement said she had decided to donate the cash raised in her husband's memory to the NSPCC because of his love of children.