A MAN who hurled an ashtray that killed a pensioner has been jailed for four years.

Widow Eileen O'Meara, 79, was walking past Yates pub in Burnley centre when she was struck by an ashtray thrown by Anthony Clark.

Preston Crown Court heard the incident happened as police mounted an operation in the town centre after a Burnley home match with Sheffield Wednesday on April 26.

Clark, 21, of Brunshaw Road, Burnley, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mrs O'Meara ,79, who died two months after the incident.

The incident happened on the day of Burnley's last home game of the season.

The injuries Mrs O'Meara received at the hands of the defendant, when she was then aged 78, ultimately led to her death on June 18, said Mr Richard Marks QC, prosecuting.

A tiny woman, four foot six tall, she was in town doing last minute shopping when the tragedy happened.

Clark was not a follower of Burnley FC, but had spent that day visiting pubs. When the game ended there was a large police presence in the centre.

Police asked Clark to move on from the scene of a clash between rival groups of supporters. It seemed he had become separated from his friends as violence spread into the shopping centre.

Mr Marks told the court "The defendant was discontented by what he regarded as the over zealous attitude of the police. As the violent scene unfolded the unfortunate victim, Mrs O'Meara, was buying last minute shopping before her dancing holiday to Blackpool. She found herself, by a tragic turn of events, in the wrong place at the wrong time."

After being moved on to the Yates pub beer garden, Clark was seen to pick up a heavy glass ashtray and extend his arm like a javelin thrower as he threw the object over the wall with a lot of force.

He went on to pick up a second ashtray and throw that over the wall with a lot of power. His actions were likened to a cricketer bowling a ball.

The prosecution said "After throwing the first ashtray he had turned to a group of lads and said "I have just chucked this ashtray at the pigs".

The second ashtray may have struck a glancing blow to a police officer before connecting with Mrs O'Meara's head, causing a nasty gash. X-rays showed she had a fractured skull and a blood clot was surgically removed.

Following the operation her condition deteriorated.

In what he described as a "moment of madness" he said he had thrown a missile behind the police on horseback. He had not intended to hit anyone, simply to disperse the police.

A police video tape was shown to the court, part of which showed Mrs O'Meara injured and being attended to by police.

Defence counsel Mr Peter Wright QC said the incident was not connected to the football match, but connected to the defendant's own public misconduct.

He had acted in a highly reckless and highly dangerous manner. Mr Wright said "The root cause of his offending was a combination of indignation at the perceived slight he had suffered at the hands of police that day, together with the fact he was fuelled by drink.

"Frustrated by the restrictions he felt had been unfairly imposed on him by his movements and what he considered an over zealous and restrictive police presence, in drink and uncharacteristically he impulsively decided to seek to disturb the police operation" added Mr Wright.

Clark was described as genuinely apologetic and ashamed of his conduct and the suffering that had been caused.

Judge Peter Openshaw QC said the defendant's conduct had been reprehensible.

He also made a six-year football banning order on Clark, barring him from entering within the inner ring road of Burnley two hours before kick off on on match days at Turf Moor and one hour afterwards.