Son’s tribute to dad

A son has paid tribute to his father who was killed in a one-punch, unprovoked attack earlier last year.

A 37-year-old Lincoln man was jailed on Friday for manslaughter of Eddie Roberts.

Max Skidmore (bottom picture) of Lytton Street, appeared at Lincoln Crown Court where he was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison. Skidmore will also serve an extra two years on licence following the conviction.

Police officers attended a report of an assault on Carholme Road in Lincoln on Sunday, December 8 last year. Eddie Roberts (pictured above) had been walking home when he came across Skidmore and was attacked.

Eddie sustained a fatal injury from one punch from Skidmore, which caused him to fall and sustain a life-threatening head injury. He was treated by paramedics at the scene, but died shortly after.

Sean Roberts, paid following tribute to his father: “Eddie, my dad was truly one of a kind, hilarious, caring, loving and as stubborn as they come. He raised me pretty much on his own for most of my life and even though it was tough a lot of the time, he never gave up. He was a hard worker and could lift his hand to just about anything and would always be first on hand to give advice on anything.

"He stood by me through all my roughest times in life and even though we would bicker about stupid things on a Monday, by Friday we would be laughing and joking together, he was my rock. 

“For that reason alone, he was the best man at our wedding and I'll never forget the look of pride he had on his face that day, yet he never understood it was me that was proud of him.

“We would talk nearly every single day, and I would visit him every few days delivering his favourite crisps and probably leaving with a bundle of items he'd prepared for me. 

“You very rarely left his house empty handed. He wouldn't ever involve himself in anyone else's business nor would he be bothered about anything that wasn't in his "circle" choosing to avoid anything that he considered idiot behaviour. 

“He would opt to live alone minding his own business, seeing his close friends, and expecting my calls every day.

"He was a man, no matter what choices I made or any uncertainty I ever had the one certain thing I always knew was he'd be there at the end of it. It hasn’t just been a father taken from me, but a brother, a confidant, a best friend and my righthand man, all in one. 

“I’ll never hear his voice or laugh with him, never play pool with him and my wife, never go on our adventures or just simply never see his face ever again and without him now my life truly will never be the same again.”

Skidmore was initially arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, but this changed to suspicion of murder following Eddie’s death.

Detectives from the Major Crime Unit charged Skidmore with man slaughter on Tuesday, December 10. The two men had not previously known each other.

Detective Inspector Andy McWatt, the officer in charge of the investigation, said: “This was a tragic incident which claimed the life of a man who was just walking home.

“Just one punch can ruin the lives of both the victim and the person who throws the punch, and this case sadly demonstrates that. It’s important that people think about their actions and know that they can have devastating consequences.

“We hope that today’s sentence brings some form of closure to Eddie’s family. Our deepest sympathies remain with his family, friends and everyone who knew him.”