THE mother of a ‘gentle giant’ who was killed by a single punch in Hexham has blasted his killer’s sentence as a ‘slap on the wrist.’

Michael Thompson (32) was killed in the early hours of Saturday, January 28, outside Hexham’s Studio Sports Bar.

Archie Henderson (25), of Redesmouth Court, Bellingham, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Monday and was sentenced to to four-and-a-half years in prison, having pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

The court heard that Henderson punched Mr Thompson, who was 6ft 4ins, with “full force,” knocking him to the ground, where he hit his head and went into cardiac arrest.

Following the sentencing, Mr Thompson’s mother, Barbara Thompson, said: “Henderson was given four-and-a-half years; will serve about two and then be out on licence.

“The law needs to be changed. There is a campaign to change sentencing laws, which can only be done through Parliament.

“I feel that we have been given the life sentence and he has been given a slap on the wrist.

“We won’t ever get over this, but with help and support from friends and family we will get through it.”

Mrs Thompson has been in touch with charity One Punch North East, which is campaigning to change the sentencing laws for one-punch attacks and manslaughter.

It is spearheaded by Maxine Thompson-Curl, whose 19-year-old son died in 2011 following the effects of a one-punch attack in Consett in 2010.

One Punch North East had been invited to Parliament on May 24 to present a petition, asking for a review of the sentencing laws for one-punch offences, but since the dissolution of Parliament for the General Election it has been put on hold.

Maxine said: “Four-and-a half-years isn’t any sort of deterrent at all.

“What we are doing is looking at Australia, which is way ahead of us in terms of looking at this.

“You can be given 10 years for GBH for a one-punch assault there and up to 20 years for manslaughter. We’d like to take that and use it as a guideline.

“We need a deterrent to stop people lifting their hands.”

After the case, DS Ian Paxton of Northumbria Police said: “This case highlights the dangers of becoming involved in fights and violent behaviour.

“One punch can take a life, and the consequences can be far reaching and have an impact on so many lives.”