A devoted grandad who tried to act as a peacemaker during a violent confrontation involving drunken Ladies Day revellers died after being punched in the face.

Simon Beston and Maxine Greenwood had gone out together on July 26 last year and were in Newcastle when a group of “drunken idiots”, who had been at the racecourse event in the city, became violent.

Newcastle Crown Court heard Mr Beston, 55, had made a “placatory gesture” with his hands when Ethan Cockram, 21, who had been drinking vodka all day, punched him once in the face.

The blow caused Mr Beston's legs to give way, his head hit the ground and he suffered catastrophic brain injuries, with multiple fractures.

Simon Beston died after being attacked in Newcastle city centre in 2025.

placeholder image — Simon Beston died after being attacked in Newcastle city centre in 2025.

The devoted dad, grandad and family man, who lived in Sunderland, died in hospital 21 days later.

Cockram, 21, of Durham Street, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

Shayne Cook, 20, of Winifred Gardens, Wallsend, and Lola Charlton, 20, of Fairhaven Avenue, Walker, both admitted one charge of affray in relation to the trouble that erupted that night.

Prosecutor Emma Dowling told the court Mr Beston and Miss Greenwood had been chatting with a homeless couple when a large group of people who had been at Ladies Day – and who a witness said were “behaving like drunken idiots” – walked past.

One onlooker said Mr Beston was "trying to calm the younger people down, reminding them they were on a night out” but the trouble continued, and Miss Greenwood also ended up involved and on the ground.

Miss Dowling said during the “disgraceful episode” Mr Beston also fell to the ground but was helped to his feet and can be clearly seen to be “pacifying” what was going on.

Before the fatal blow, Cook had punched an unknown male and kicked Mr Beston while he was on the ground while Charlton had grabbed Miss Greenwood and dragged her to the ground.

Miss Dowlling said Mr Beston was trying to calm the situation and added: "His hands are in a placatory gesture. At that point Mr Cockram approached him from the side and punched him with his left hand, making contact with his left cheek.

Lola Charlton was handed a nine-month jail term suspended for two years, with 120 hours unpaid work.

"Mr Beston's legs give way, he falls backwards, the rear of his head making contact with the kerb on the pavement.”

The group then left the area, leaving Mr Beston unconscious and hurt.

He was taken to hospital and died on August 16.

In a heart breaking impact statement, Mr Beston's daughter Chloe said she has been left traumatised by what had happened to her dad and added: “His death has left a huge void no other person will ever be able to fill.

Shayne Cook has been sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders' institution.

“I didn't lose my dad as a result of old age or ill health, I lost him as a result of someone else's actions, which has made the grieving process more difficult and more traumatic.

“I struggle to cope with the fact I'm never going to see him again and I don't feel safe anymore.”

Mr Beston's devastated mum Mary said in her statement her “world fell apart” when she heard what had happened to her son and added: “I still wait for him to open the front door and shout ‘it's just me mam, do you fancy a cuppa?'. “The day Simon died, part of me went with him.”

Miss Greenwood said losing Simon in such "horrific” circumstances had left her traumatised and changed almost every aspect of her life and future.

She said in her statement: “In one moment everything we planned and everything I knew was taken away from me.”

Miss Greenwood added she was never able to sleep in the bed she shared with Simon at their home, which she had had to move out of, and she missed him every day. Judge Edward Bindloss said Mr Beston seemed to have been trying to calm the situation down before the fatal punch and his death has had a devastating impact on his loved ones. Cockram was sentenced to four years and ten months behind bars.

Josh Normanton, mitigating, said Cockram – who has ADHD and autism – was “deeply sorry” and added: “He thinks about what has happened all the time from his prison cell and he will continue to think about it. “When I say he is haunted by it I mean that, on his behalf.” Cook was handed 18 months in a young offenders’ institution. Claire Anderson, representing Cook, said her client had also been drinking but had never been in trouble before, and wrongly believed he was protecting a friend when he kicked out. She added: “No apology I make on his behalf is going to bring back Mr Beston.” Charlton was given a nine-month jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 120 hours unpaid work and mental health treatment. Mathew Purves, defending, said Charlton, who has no previous convictions, had “unrelenting remorse” and added: “She is a hard-working human being who has found herself in a world she's just not used to at all. The prospect of being in court, the prospect of spending a moment in prison is utterly terrifying for her.”