Man jailed for manslaughter

A man has been sentenced for manslaughter following the death of Clemuth Roberts in Dagenham in December 2016. 

Ben Harper, 21 (28.08.1996), from Romford was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment at the Old Bailey on Monday, 5 February. 

He was also given an extended sentence of five years on license.

Police were called just before 13:00hrs on 19 December 2016 to Stanhope Road, Dagenham following reports of a fight. 

Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found 58-year-old Clemuth suffering from assault related injuries.

He died at the scene a short while later.

A post mortem examination was carried out at Queens Hospital and the cause of death was given as blunt force trauma to the head.

On Tuesday 26 September, 2017, Harper was charged with the murder of Clemuth Roberts.

On Thursday, 18 December Harper pleaded not guilty to murder but offered a plea of guilty to manslaughter which was formally accepted at the Old Bailey on Monday, 8 January. 

DI Justin Howick said: “This was a violent attack with tragic consequences which has had a devastating impact on Mr Roberts’ family.”

Mr Roberts’ daughter, Simone, said: “No sentence will take away our daily pain of losing a loved father and grandfather. We are the ones living with a life sentence.”

+ A 17-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl who were arrested on suspicion of murder were later released with no further action.