Sunderland businessman Adam Jenkins jailed for manslaughter of Christmas Dinner guest Simon Birch

A businessman who killed his sister's boyfriend at a Christmas Day gathering has been jailed for eight years.

Construction boss Adam Jenkins severed Simon Birch's jugular vein and carotid artery when he drew a knife across the left side of his neck in the late evening on December 25 2021.

Mr Birch, 39, who was the partner of Jenkins' sister Emma Jenkins, lost an "enormous" amount of blood and was declared dead just after midnight on Boxing Day.

Jenkins told jurors Mr Birch had violently attacked Emma her just before the deadly confrontation and at one point he feared he had killed her.

Earlier this month, after a trial at Newcastle Crown Court Jenkins, 36, of Sunderland Road, Newbottle, Sunderland, was found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter.

At his sentence hearing today, prosecutor Francis Fitzgibbon KC read statements from Mr Birch's grieving family.

Mr Birch's 14-year-old daughter said in her statement there had been a lot said during the trial about her dad's angry side but added: "He wasn't always like that. I wish more of you could have seen his kind side.

"He would do anything he could to give me and my sister everything we could ever wish for.

"If any friends needed anything he would be there for them. He would give them his last penny.

"When thinking about things I would miss about him, the first thing was his hugs. He gave the best hugs in the world. I always felt safe, loved and protected as well as a little bit squashed."

As she passed sentence, Mrs Justice Foster told Jenkins: "A sentence of this court never compensates for the loss of life and any sentence must be guided by the law.

"It is important to remember the devastating, lifelong impact there may be from a single slash of a knife.

"Simon Birch was a young, vigorous man. By your actions, you robbed him of his life.

"It is clear from the statements I have read from his mother and two daughters he was very much loved and dreadfully missed. The fact he died at Christmas has added extra poignancy for his family."

The judge said she was satisfied Jenkins did not intend to cause really serious harm or death when he used the knife and had "honest fears" for the well-being of his family.

She said she was satisfied Jenkins was "horrified and surprised" afterwards and is remorseful.

The judge added that Jenkins' behaviour that day was out of character and said he was a "dedicated hard-worker, devoted to his family, very highly regarded and widely respected in the working community and more generally".

Mr Fitzgibbon told the court Jenkins had hosted a family festive celebration at the home he shared with his partner Natalie Shaw, which was set in its own land with outhouses including a private bar.

The court heard those present appeared to have a happy day although there may have been "simmering tensions" between Mr Birch and his partner Emma.

After the family and guests had eaten, everyone ended up in the bar building for karaoke and games and the adults continued drinking and "pushing the boat out" to celebrate Christmas.

Host Jenkins left the outdoor bar and went to bed in the main house at around 9.15pm.

The court heard the evening took a "sour turn" when there was an incident involving Mr Birch in the bar room and "ill feeling" developed between him and his partner Emma Jenkins.

Mr Fitzgibbon said the couple went to bed separately in the main house but Mr Birch was later disturbed by noises of others in the house and got back up,

found Emma Jenkins and "slapped her in the head".

The prosecutor told the court: "Emma Jenkins ran downstairs, followed by Simon Birch and now things get out of hand, chaos starts."

Mr Fitzgibbon said Jenkins was also woken up by the disturbance and by then "tempers were running high".

He added: "Mr Birch was seen to punch the defendant and another witness suggests the defendant pushed Mr Birch over and threw a toy at him, then they were both fighting."

The court heard Jenkins was ushered into the kitchen by his partner Miss Shaw, to get him "out of the way of" Mr Birch.

Mr Fitzgibbon said Emma Jenkins suffered a cut to her head which was bleeding and could have been either from Mr Birch punching her or from falling onto an object.

The court heard while Jenkins was in the kitchen his partner Miss Shaw rang for the police, Mr Birch was "ushered out of the house".

Mr Fitzgibbon said Mr Birch appeared "calm" on CCTV footage which showed him walking away but Jenkins then went out of the back door, with three knives and approached him.

He said: "The defendant does not pause when he goes up to Mr Birch, there may or may not have been a brief exchange of words but almost instantly the defendant drew the knife quickly and firmly across the left side of Mr Birch's throat, causing unsurvivable injuries."

The court heard Miss Shaw and Jenkins tried to help the injured man but he could not be saved.

Jeremy Dein KC, defending, said Jenkins, who has been heavily involved in charity work and helping others, is remorseful for what he did and has said in his own words: "I'm going to really struggle when I'm out, I don't want to be happy again because of what I've done."

Mr Dein added that Jenkins had been "drip fed" information about Mr Birch'smistreatment of Emma Jenkins and woke up that night to see her with a "battered face".

He added that what happened followed a "violent and controlled, highly frightening and threatening and unpredictable attack by Simon Birch on Mr Jenkins' family" and there was a "high degree of provocation".

Mr Dein said Emma Jenkins feels responsible for her sibling's loss of liberty and for "bringing Mr Birch into a hard working, decent and honest family".

Following the hearing, Simon’s family issued a heartfelt tribute to the much-loved dad of two.

They said: “Simon (Birchy) was a loving son, brother, father, uncle and friend. Our Christmases will never be the same without him.

“We would not wish what we have endured for the last 19 months on any family. Simon had a heart of gold and a smile that would light up any room.

“The thought that we will never see it again or hear his voice is truly heartbreaking. There is no justification for what happened to him and no length of sentence will ever bring him back to us.”

Simon’s daughters, Brogan and Georgie, added: “We miss him everyday and don’t want to believe we will never see him again. There were so many dreams we had for our lives ahead that have now been taken from us.

“Christmas Day is no longer a huge day of celebration. We will always remember it as the day we lost our dad.”

Detective Superintendent Jane Fairlamb, of Northumbria Police’s Major Investigation Team, was the senior investigating officer on the case.

She paid tribute to Simon’s family and said she hopes the tragic case sends a powerful message across the North East and beyond.

Det Supt Fairlamb said: “Sadly this is another tragic case that highlights the very real and irreversible consequences of carrying a knife.

“For this to happen on Christmas Day is especially poignant for Simon’s family – what should have been a time of celebration and togetherness ended in the most devastating of outcomes.

“Our thoughts remain with them and I would like to thank them for their amazing strength and cooperation shown throughout this difficult case.

“While no outcome can remove the grief they are facing, I hope they can take some comfort knowing the person responsible for Simon’s death has been brought to justice.

“There are never any winners when it comes to knife crime and I sincerely hope this sends a strong and sobering message across the North East. To anybody who carries a knife or weapon, think again - you risk ruining more than one life forever.”

A force spokesperson added: "If you have any information about anybody you believe may be carrying a knife or a weapon, please report it to police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website or by calling 101.

"In an emergency, or if a crime is taking place, always ring 999."

You can also pass on information via independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.