Former Spurs captain Steve Perryman appeared at

Former Spurs captain Steve Perryman appeared at the
Old Bailey today (Wed) to praise the ‘fair play and sportsmanship’
of a pub fighter who kicked an unconscious man to death.

Perryman, now team manager of Watford FC, told the court about the
‘fine family’ and ceaseless charity work of long-term friend Victor
Hardwicke, who was convicted of manslaughter.

Hardwicke, 41, had followed a drinker out of his local, punched
him to the ground then kicked him again and again in the head until
the man lay mortally wounded.

He died in hospital five days later.

Afterwards, Hardwicke helped another drinker attack his first
victim’s friend then they both went back inside the pub and calmly
finished their drinks.

The judge was told Hardwicke had been convicted of manslaughter 20
years ago for killing a partygoer with a single punch.

He slammed the latest attack as ‘naked aggression’ which could not
be overlooked despite the glowing testimonials from Mr Perryman, youth
workers, professional colleagues and Brentford and Tottenham football
clubs.

Hardwicke was jailed for three and a half years for killing fast
food worker Chew Lai Lim, 26, and for assault occasioning actual
bodily harm on Lim’s drinking pal Graham Kelly, 39.

His co-defendant John Bruce, 29, was given a 21 month jail term
after being convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm for
the attack on Kelly.

Bruce, who was cleared of Lim’s manslaughter, had his jail term
suspended for two years.

The Common Serjeant (Corr) of London, Judge Robert Lymberry QC,
heard of the two completely contradictory sides to the killer’s
personality.

Mr Hugh Self, QC, for Hardwicke, spoke of him as the keen organiser
of youth football and the co-initiator of the successful charity event
Good Neighbour Day.

Mr Perryman, from Long Lane, Ickenham, said: ‘He’s trustworthy and
very family orientated.

He’s fiercely competitive but I don’t think
anything goes against his fair play and sportsmanship.

‘
But the jury had heard of the man who gone up to Kelly and Lim, in
the Heart and Hind pub on the Graham Park Estate, Hendon, and
announced bluntly: ‘Get out.

‘
When the pair abandoned their drinks and left, Hardwicke and Bruce
followed them out and attacked them without provocation, Judge Lymbery
said.

‘Neither man had offered any violence or offence to anyone, nor
did they offer any violence outside.

‘This was naked aggression with tragic results.

‘You put Lim down with a push or a punch and the evidence is clear
that you kicked him repeatedly.

‘He was a tiny man.

‘You did not intend to kill him or cause serious harm but a man
has died and he is gone forever because of your unlawful act.

‘
The judge accepted that the January 26 offence last year was ‘out
of character’ but said it was far too serious to be passed over.

Hardwicke, a greengrocer of Everett Block on the Graham Park
Estate, Hendon, stared straight ahead as he was jailed for three and a
half years for the attacks on Mr Kelly and Mr Lim, both from Mill
Hill.

Turning to Bruce, unemployed of Hector Block on the same Hendon
estate, the judge said the ‘unprovoked’ attack on Kelly was of a type
that was all too prevalent.

He was jailed for 21 months, suspended two years.

ENDS
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