A MAN who caused the death of his fellow lodger when he hurled a brick at his head during an argument, was jailed for 27-months.

Lwando Ngwane, 22, was witnessed arguing with George Holden outside the house they shared in London Road, Grays, just moments before Mr Holden was struck.

The blow from the brick left Mr Holden, 40, with a fractured skull but he was to suffer severe facial fractures when he fell to the ground and hit his head off a kerb.

He was rushed to hospital in Kent before being transferred to a London hospital where he died from head injuries eight days after the attack at 9pm on August 13 last year.

At Basildon Crown Court on Monday Judge Phillip Clegg told Ngwane: "It was a tragic incident. This sentence is not intended to compensate for the loss of life but to punish for criminality, which was not that great."

Before Ngwane attacked Mr Holden, who was described as "a very respectful, friendly, happy-go-lucky and hardworking man" who could be "quarrelsome and violent" in drink, the victim was observed grabbing hold of the defendant and headbutting him as he tried to walk away.

Ngwane did not retaliate immediately but ran into a nearby front garden where he picked up a brick and attacked the Irish man.

Graham Parkins, counsel for the prosecution, said: "There is no doubt that the victim saw that brick because he turned and ran across the road."

Mr Parkins said that it is possible Mr Holden lost consciousness after being struck with the brick because he did not try to break his fall.

He also said that the two pathologists who examined Mr Holden's body were unable to determine whether Ngwane's attack would have caused his death without his further injuries.

Ngwane had been due to stand trial for murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter.