A 24-year-old man has been jailed for eight years for killing a volunteer with a single punch after the victim brushed past him on a Tube escalator.
Rakeem Miles was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court after being convicted of the manslaughter of 28-year-old Samuel Winter.
Judge Benedict Kelleher imposed an eight-year prison term with an extended licence period of five years, though Miles will be eligible for parole after serving less than five-and-a-half years.
The fatal attack occurred at Southwark Underground station on August 22 last year at around 9.30pm, when Winter briefly brushed past Miles whilst walking up an escalator.
Rakeem Miles punched Samuel Winter at the busy tube station
GOOGLE MAPS/BTP
Miles, who had been travelling on the same eastbound Jubilee line service but in a different carriage, reacted violently to the brief contact.
He followed Winter through the ticket barriers while shouting abuse, then grabbed him from behind, tearing his shirt in two as he spun him around.
Miles delivered a single powerful punch to Winter's head, leaving him collapsed on the exit stairs before fleeing the scene.
Paramedics performed CPR at the station and Winter was rushed to hospital with a critical brain injury. He died two days later on August 24 with his family at his bedside.
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Sam Winter who died following the assault at Southwark Underground Station
PA
Winter was an AI engineer and qualified physiotherapist who volunteered with several charities. His family described him as "gentle and kind, quick-witted and funny, with deep faith and an unendingly giving spirit".
In a statement following Miles's conviction, they said: "We have lost our gentle, hugely compassionate, funny, intelligent and hard-working son Sam because of this entirely unprovoked and horrific assault.
"We would do anything and give everything to have Sam back with us. But he's gone for the rest of our lives."
The family added that they had "unconditionally forgiven" Miles despite the devastating loss.
Rakeem Miles has now been jailed
BRITISH TRANSPORT POLICE
British Transport Police traced Miles through his Oyster card usage and arrested him at a shop near the station the following morning.
Detective Chief Inspector Paul Attwell said: "Though nothing can bring Samuel back, I hope today's sentencing allows his family some small measure of comfort as they continue to grieve for him."
"It only took one punch from Miles to end Samuel's life and forever change the lives of those around him."
"He showed no remorse for his action, leaving Samuel at the station and continuing on with his evening."
DCI Attwell also praised his team's swift investigation and reiterated that there is "zero tolerance" for violence.
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