A YOUNG carpenter wept tears of remorse as he was jailed for nine months after killing a man with an "unlucky" single punch outside Southampton's Leisure World complex.

Because of time served on remand, Oliver Cozens will serve only another five weeks in youth custody - making it likely he will be freed in time for Christmas.

The 20-year-old had denied the manslaughter of Andrew Heath but was found guilty following trial at Winchester Crown Court.

Cozens had lashed out after seeing his girlfriend Kassidy Strasser, 18, accidentally hit by Mr Heath as the group waited in a taxi queue.

Three minutes after the original scuffle, Cozens had appeared out of the crowds and punched night-worker Mr Heath once on the chin, causing him to fall to the ground, suffering a fractured skull.

The 28-year-old bachelor, of Lordshill, fell deeply unconscious and was pronounced dead in Southampton General Hospital two days later.

After Cozens' conviction, Mr Heath's parents Michael and Patricia, of High Wycombe, said: "We are pleased with the verdict. However, nothing compensates for the loss of our son."

Mr Justice Silber, sentencing Cozens yesterday, told him: "This is an extremely tragic case because one person's life has been lost and I accept that your life will never be the same again.

"One of the reasons for this tragedy is that your victim Mr Heath had been drinking heavily. This meant he was unlikely or unable to use protective reflexes by putting his hands out and he therefore suffered the fatal injury."

The judge added: "I regard your attack as being one of revenge and retaliation.

"The courts make it very clear that people must realise that violence on the streets is to be punished.

"I accept that this was an unfortunate accident but it was an act of revenge. There was a gap of about three minutes after the attack on your girlfriend but you still went to deliver this blow of moderate to severe force."

Cozens, of Meredith Towers, Tunstall Road, Thornhill, who had no previous convictions, claimed he acted in self-defence when he punched Mr Heath as crowds poured out of Leisure World on January 21.

A post-mortem showed Mr Heath had been three times the drink-drive limit at the time of his death. Cozens's mother was too upset to comment outside court but said her condolences went to the Heath family.