Man jailed for manslaughter

Man jailed for manslaughter

A 55-year-old man has been jailed for manslaughter after he killed a man with a single punch in Bury St Edmunds last year.

Andrew Allen, of Severn Road in Bury St Edmunds, appeared at Peterborough Crown Court today, Friday 30 October, where he was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment.

Allen was found guilty of manslaughter on Wednesday 28 October following a trial lasting six days.

The incident occurred in the St Olaves Street shopping precinct between 7.55pm and 8.05pm on Saturday 26 July 2025.

Allen became involved in an argument with the 56-year-old victim, Scott Lisney, who was also from Bury St Edmunds. The pair were known to each other as Scott was the ex-partner of Allen’s current partner and there had been previous disputes between them.

On the evening of the attack, Allen was seen to approach Scott and a verbal altercation ensued. Allen was waving his arms, pointing and gesticulating and also grabbed Scott by the arm.

Throughout this argument, Scott appeared calm with his fingers interlaced or arms folded and showed no signs of aggression.

Scott then walked away and was followed by Allen who again grabbed his arm and punched him, causing Scott to fall to the ground and hit his head on the floor.

Allen then left Scott on the floor declaring “he’s sparko” and made his way back home, where he was arrested by police in the early hours of the following morning. 

When he arrived at Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre, Allen made further admissions saying: “It’s quite simple - I knocked him out.”

Following the attack, Scott was able to be walked to a car and taken to West Suffolk Hospital but whilst in A&E he began to lose consciousness. A CT scan found he had sustained a bleed on the brain and he was placed into a medically induced coma from which he did not recover and he died in hospital two days later on Monday 28 July.

Allen pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter brought against him and although he accepted he had struck Scott during the trial, he claimed his actions were in self-defence. The jury rejected his version of events and found him guilty by a unanimous verdict.

T/Detective Superintendent Matt Adams, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Today's sentence concludes the criminal proceedings arising from the death of Scott Lisney, who lost his life following a single act of violence.

“While no sentence can undo the loss suffered by Scott's family, today's outcome means the person responsible for his death has been held accountable.

“Scott was punched once, causing him to fall backwards and suffer a fatal head injury. What followed has had devastating and lasting consequences for those who knew and loved him.

“Scott's family have shown considerable strength and dignity throughout the investigation and court proceedings. I hope that, with the conclusion of these proceedings, they are able to grieve away from the criminal justice process and continue remembering Scott for the person he was.

“This case is a stark reminder of the consequences that can follow a single act of violence. A moment's loss of control can change lives forever, affecting not only those directly involved but the families left behind.

“The message remains a simple one: if you find yourself in a confrontation, walk away. One punch can have irreversible consequences.

“Finally, I would like to thank the witnesses who came forward and all those who assisted the investigation, helping ensure the circumstances surrounding Scott's death were placed before the court."

A picture of Allen can be found here.