A CONVICTED killer who left a man dead with a single punch has launched a bid to clear his name.

Paul Birmingham insists he is innocent despite being convicted of manslaughter by a jury, his legal representatives said.

Glenn Watson died after being punched in Bank Street in Bolton town centre as he tried to protect his family and friends from a gang of three men, including Birmingham, who threatened them.

Birmingham, aged 20, of Grasmere Road, Swinton, was sent to a young offenders' institution for three-and-a-half years last month after a judge at Manchester Crown Court said that he had punched Mr Watson, aged 50, of Brookhouse Avenue, Farnworth.

A second man, Michael Faux, aged 19, of Bingham Street, Swinton, was jointly charged with manslaughter, but Judge Michael Henshell ruled that the manslaughter charges should be dropped against the teenager due to lack of evidence.

Bolton-based Garstangs Solicitors have contacted the Court of Appeal and are awaiting a decision on whether they will be granted an appeal hearing.

Mike Garstang said the appeal had been lodged on the basis that Birmingham and Faux were accused of jointly killing Mr Watson.

He said prosecution barristers had stated at the start of the trial they were unable to prove who had been responsible for delivering the fatal blow.

"Paul Birmingham maintains his innocence and we have lodged an appeal," said Mr Garstang.

"It was the prosecution's case that they could not prove who had delivered the blow to the victim and that both Michael Faux and Mr Birmingham were as guilty as each other. But after Mr Faux was cleared, they changed their mind.

"The judge let the case go to the jury and sentenced Mr Birmingham on the basis of him being the sole attacker."

Birmingham was also found guilty of affray along with Faux and a third man, Robert Edwards, aged 23, of Coniston Road, Swinton, following the incident on October 30 last year.

Faux was sentenced to 15 months in a young offenders' institution and Edwards was jailed for nine months.

Mr Watson was on a night out in Bolton with friends and family, who were celebrating the birthday of his daughter's friend when they were confronted by the trio in Bank Street.

Judge Henshell said the attack was "cowardly and unprovoked", but the sentence he passed was dismissed as "disgusting" by Mr Watson's partner, Sonia Steventon.