THREE men have each been given custodial sentences for the manslaughter of Sam Wilson, who was run over by a taxi after their assault left him helpless in the road.

Sentencing Linden Lee Smith, Jack David Alexander and Robbie Mark McHale at Leeds Crown Court yesterday, Mr Justice Globe said the jury had concluded their violence significantly contributed to the death of 21-year-old Mr Wilson.

He was left unconscious in Haxby Road after being punched by Alexander and died from an “unsurvivable” fracture of the skull when he was run over by the taxi seconds later.

The judge said in simple terms they had left a man “injured and motionless in the middle of a main road where numerous cars and taxis were driving up and down all the time.

“The death of Sam Wilson has had catastrophic consequences for all those close to him.”

He told the trio no sentence could compensate his family and friends for the loss they would have to endure for the rest of their lives.

Those around Sam are paying a very high price for your unlawfulness and criminality on October 11.”

All three were unanimously convicted by a jury on Thursday of the manslaughter of Mr Wilson and assaulting his friend Henry Smith causing him actual bodily harm.

Alexander, 21, of Fox Covert, Huntington, York, was jailed for a total of seven years. The court heard he was on licence at the time from a 16-month sentence imposed for a violent disorder which happened in October 2013 in which a man was attacked after he broke up a fight.

McHale, 20, of Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall, was sent to a young offender institution for five-and-a-half years.

The judge said he was satisfied it was his actions which initially triggered the confrontation which ended with Sam Wilson’s tragic death.

Linden Smith, 20 of Kirkham Avenue, Bell Farm, was sent to a young offender institution for five years and four months.

The jury heard during the trial that Mr Wilson, of Haxby and his friend decided to walk to a club in the city centre when there was not enough room for them in the taxi taken by the rest of their group.

McHale, Linden Smith, and Alexander were on bikes going to a house party in New Earswick when the two groups passed each other.

McHale claimed in evidence he reacted to the two men laughing at him. McHale started the violence by swinging at Mr Wilson, leading to Henry Smith defending his friend. McHale and Henry Smith were then scrapping in the road.

The judge said it might be that ill-advisedly Mr Wilson said something that then caused Alexander to react and the three men then attacked the pair before Henry Smith managed to run away and phone the police.

The three defendants left Mr Wilson unconscious in the road and cycled off.

It was then taxi driver Dennis Ellerby ran over him, not realising it was a person until he was too close to stop.

The court heard statements from Sam’s father, James Wilson, on behalf of their family, of the devastating impact of his death.

One of four children, Mr Wilson said Sam was a “happy, gregarious, cheeky, fun-loving” young man.

“He had many friends from a broad spectrum of the community and over many generations. Sam had a knack of engaging with everyone he came into contact with.”

He had been delighted to get a job with a local firm after receiving his Federation of Master Builders Student of the Year award in bricklaying at York College.

Mr Wilson said when they heard of his death “Our hearts were ripped out that morning and life has never been or will be the same.”

He said Sam had been deprived of marriage and fatherhood “opportunities still possible for his killers.”

He had died a few days before his father’s birthday and his funeral was held on his mother’s birthday which would always blight those dates in the future. Sam would have been 22 next week.

He said: “Those responsible have talked of remorse but the way some of them handled themselves throughout the trial has been very disrespectful.”

After the case Detective Chief Inspector Paul Sweeting said: “Although nothing can bring Sam back I hope his family can take some comfort from the fact that the people responsible for his death have been convicted and are now facing long sentences.”