A JUDGE has slammed the 'tissue of lies' evidence of a man he jailed for more than eight years for manslaughter at Chester Crown Court.
Daniel Griffiths was found guilty by jury of the manslaughter of Andrew Guy last week, and on Wednesday (May 11), he was sent to prison for eight-and-a-half years by Judge Steven Everett, recorder of Chester.
He was acquitted of murder but while he had the opportunity to plead guilty to manslaughter, he chose to contest that too – before a jury found him guilty.
Sentencing Griffiths, 43, for the attack on Mr Guy on Friday, October 15, 2021, Judge Everett described him as a "selfish, arrogant and a coercive individual".
"Your case was that however Andrew Guy received his injuries it was not at your hand and the jury rightfully dismissed that," said Judge Everett.
"Your evidence was a tissue of lies and you are a stranger to the truth.
"I cannot give you any credit now and the sentence I give is the sentence you will serve, which is quite right.
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"I, with the jury, saw you give evidence and I was able to assess you while you were just eight feet from me while I listened to your dishonest account.
"The experience of you giving your evidence was an unfortunate one but it was illuminating one for me as I am best placed to sentence.
"You are totally selfish, you care for no-one but yourself.
"You are an arrogant individual, and you pointed your finger at everyone else including the victim’s mother.
"You are a jealous, possessive and in my view coercive individual."
During the trial, the jury had been told that Mr Guy had arrived back in the area from Bournemouth and having stayed with his mother, had gone to Market Drayton and Whitchurch to meet friends.
They also heard that he received a message asking for drugs from Griffiths and his partner from a device shared by the pair, to which Mr Guy replied, calling her 'babe'.
This, the court heard, sparked jealousy in Griffiths and he was found to have struck Mr Guy in the leg and stomach, which caused internal bleeding leading to his death the following day.
Judge Everett also criticised what he called attempts by Griffiths to slander Mr Guy as a 'sex pest' and also his mother, Brenda Fellowes, stating he approved of his drug taking.
A victim impact statement was read out to the court on behalf of Mrs Fellowes, who was there to witness her son's killer sentenced.
It said: "It is impossible to put into words how losing Andy has effected me.
"No parent should ever have to deal with the death of a child and he died in the worst way, so senseless.
"We had a close relationship.
"He was a much loved son for me – the loss I feel is huge.
"I am an 80-year-old and now on my own and have lost my carer.
"There is a huge hole in my heart and my life has changed overnight."
Griffiths will serve a minimum of six years before he is eligible for release on licence.
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