A VIOLENT martial arts expert has been jailed for nine years for killing a man in a row over drugs.

Lloyd Deacon, of Parson's Field, Dedham, had denied killing Gary Bassett after an argument about drugs in a Basildon alleyway.

Deacon lashed out, launching a kick at drug user Mr Bassett's head, who had refused to share his crack cocaine.

A major blood vessel burst in his brain and he died at Basildon Hospital two days later - in the early hours of July 31 last year, The 27-year-old, was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

The jury heard how Deacon had met with Mr Bassett and his friend Melanie Williams in Basildon town centre.

Mr Bassett and Miss Williams had smoked crack cocaine together earlier that day and were hoping to meet a drug dealer to get more.

They met Deacon before heading to the alleyway to smoke a further supply of the Class A drug.

Deacon later approached the pair and asked for a portion of their crack cocaine, which he claimed to have paid for, but left when he was refused.

He then returned and launched the fatal attack.

Judge Charles Gratwicke QC jailed Deacon for nine years at a sentencing hearing on Friday.

Chelmsford Crown Court's honorary recorder said: "You had relied on Mr Bassett to get you drugs.

"Upon your return to collect your drugs, you saw Mr Bassett smoking drugs with Melanie Williams, and wrongly thought they were yours.

“Whatever it was that was spoken between you during that altercation, the end result is that you kicked Gary Bassett in the head, forcing it back where he hit the ground.

“It was a brutal and vicious kick.

“You have a history of boxing, Thai boxing and martial arts.

"You were fully aware of what potential consequences would be of kicking someone in the head.

“During your Thai boxing, you would have bare feet, here you did not, you wore plimsolls, which would have increased the severity of the blow.

“You are in my judgement a violent man who is prepared to inflict violence on others when you are crossed, and this was an extremely serious offence.”

After the sentencing, senior investigating officer Det Con Insp Stephen Jennings of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said Deacon will have to live with what he did.

He said: “This has been a devastating and extremely difficult time for Mr Bassett’s loved-ones.

“This case serves as a stark reminder that any act of violence can have the most tragic of consequences.

“Deacon could have left the argument and walked away. Instead he now faces a significant number of years behind bars and will have to live with the tragic consequences of his actions.”