This is the man who was today jailed for the manslaughter of a much-loved father. 

Dennie Griffiths, 28, will be spedning the next seven years behind bars for killing Matthew Bion. 

Mr Bion, 31, had gone for drinks with his partner and friends at Reid's bar in Laindon Road, Billericay, on Saturday August 17, 2019.

As Matthew and his friends left the bar in the early hours, an argument broke out between two groups who had been in the same venue that night.

One of these groups contained Griffiths and Jade Chambers.

Matthew was trying to calm the situation when he was punched by Griffiths, causing him to fall to the ground.

Read more >> 'Matthew's death will forever bring us pain', say heartbroken family

Griffiths, of Paynters Mead, Basildon, then ran away before he and Chambers were arrested later that same night.

A post-mortem examination recorded that Matthew, from Wickford, died on Tuesday August 27, 2019 as a result of his head injuries.

Following an investigation by the Serious Crime Directorate, Dennie Griffiths and Jade Chambers were summonsed to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday October 22, 2019: Griffiths to answer a charge of manslaughter and Chambers to answer a charge of assisting an offender.

A jury found both Griffiths and Chambers guilty of the charges when they stood trial at Basildon Crown Court on Tuesday September 21, 2021, following two days deliberation.

Griffiths and Chambers were both sentenced at the same court today. 

Chambers was handed a 12-month jail term, suspended for 12 months for her role in assisting Griffiths.