A BASILDON man has been jailed for seven years for the manslaughter of "gentle" Matthew Bion.

Dennie Griffiths, 28 of Paynters Mead, was sentenced for the manslaughter of Matthew Bion at Basildon Crown Court today (Wednesday 19 January).

Griffiths was sentenced alongside his co-defendant Jade Chambers of Hermitage Drive. The 24-year-old received a 12-month jail term, suspended for 12 months for her role in assisting Griffiths.

The jury found both Griffiths and Chambers guilty of the charges when they stood trial at the same court on Tuesday, 21 September 2021, following two days of deliberation.

Following their convictions, Matthew's family had this to say: "Matthew was a peaceful, gentle and caring man - it will forever bring his family and friends such pain that his life was taken through such reckless and unnecessary violence."

Matthew, 31, had gone for drinks with his partner and friends at Reid's bar in Laindon Road, Billericay, on Saturday, 17 August 2019. As Matthew and his friends left the bar in the early hours, an argument broke out between two groups who had been in the same venue that night. One of these groups contained Dennie Griffiths and Jade Chambers.

Matthew was trying to calm the situation when he was punched by Griffiths, causing him to fall to the ground. Griffiths then ran away before he and Chambers were arrested later that same night.

A post-mortem examination recorded that Matthew, from Wickford, died on Tuesday 27 August 2019 as a result of his head injuries.

Following an investigation by the Serious Crime Directorate, Dennie Griffiths and Jade Chambers were summonsed to appear at Basildon Magistrates' Court on Thursday, 22 October 2019: Griffiths to answer a charge of manslaughter and Chambers to answer a charge of assisting an offender.

Detective Chief Inspector Scott Egerton, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: "Matthew Bion was enjoying a night out with friends when he was needlessly assaulted, sustaining a serious head injury that ultimately cost him his life. He was a completely innocent party.

"The actions of Dennie Griffiths will have a lifelong impact on Matthew's family, his partner, children and all those who witnessed what happened that night.

"My thoughts are with his family."