A DROITWICH Marine on a fun night out in fancy dress with friends had his life tragically cut short after being felled with a single blow.

Plymouth Crown Court was told Corp Kevin Weaver was one of a group of five Marines, dressed as cowboys and Indians, who had left a Plymouth pub on Thursday, March 2 - only to become involved in trouble as they attempted to cross a road.

Paul Dunkels, QC, prosecuting, said as they were using a pedestrian crossing, believing the lights were in their favour, they were almost struck by a white Ford Fiesta van.

The Marines made gestures to the driver, 25-year-old Francis Fletcher, who parked the vehicle, went over to a group of three others and then confronted the Marines, starting a fight.

Fletcher and Cpl Weaver, a married father-of-one, were described as "squaring up" to each other before Cpl Weaver was punched in the face and fell backwards, with his head striking the pavement.

This injury led to his death a week later, on Thursday, March 9, at a Devon hospital.

Judge William Taylor described the offenders as "four men who went mob-handed taking violence to the Royal Marines".

Fletcher, who will only have to serve half of a five-year sentence, had a lengthy criminal record, as had the others, Steven Gunningham, 19, Karl Rapson, 20, and Dean Pope, 23, all of whom received three-year sentences after admitting violent disorder.

Judge Taylor also criticised the level of violence in the well-known military city.

"Rivalry between the armed forces and civilians has been rife for centuries in this city, it has become endemic in recent years," he said.

"This was an utter waste of a young life, with devastating consequences for the family."