Man found guilty of killing brother after punching him in social club playfight

A man has been found guilty of killing his brother after punching him at a social club while "playfighting".

Brent Clayton, 62, told police he had "chinned" his younger brother Simon, 58, while out drinking at Waterfoot Social Club in Rossendale, Lancashire, on 23 November, 2024.

CCTV showed Clayton shadowboxing in the club's function room while egging on his brother to join in and fight.

After the younger brother stood up, the two appeared to playfight before Simon "catches" the older Clayton with a slight punch.

In retaliation, Clayton is then seen moving forward and throwing two hard punches to his younger brother's face, causing him to fall and hit his head on the floor.

Clayton then raised his arms in "victory", according to police.

Witnesses said that when they got into the room to see Simon on the floor, Clayton told them Simon hit him first and that they should not call an ambulance because "he will get up in a minute".

When Simon still wasn't responding, the witness called 999 for help, police said.

A Home Office post-mortem examination determined Simon died from a hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury due to cardiac arrest and blunt force trauma to the head, with acute alcohol intoxication being a contributing factor.

Lancashire Police said that after his arrest, Clayton was distraught during three interviews with officers and would not answer questions.

During one round of questioning, he told detectives he was remorseful and that he believed it was a playfight that escalated while both men were drunk.

Clayton denied manslaughter but was found guilty by a jury at Preston Crown Court on Thursday. Sentencing is set for 14 October.

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Detective Inspector Tris Hardwick, of Lancashire Police, said after the verdict: "This is a devastatingly sad case that shows it only takes one punch to take a life, and to ruin your own."

He added: "Simon's family have had to come to terms not only with the fact that he has died, but that he was killed by his older brother - someone who he was meant to be able to trust implicitly."

He then said that Clayton "didn't go out that night with the intention of taking a life, but he became intoxicated; he thought it was a good idea to mock a fight with his brother".

"There was nothing pretend about the punch that killed Simon," the inspector continued.

(c) Sky News 2026: Man found guilty of killing brother after punching him in social club playfight