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From the
https://www.newsshopper.co.uk By Josh Bolton, 11th December 2025.
Wetherspoon death: Man jailed for killing Charlie Prodromou.
Paul Tallant admitted manslaughter after he killed Charlie Prodromou
outside a Wetherspoon pub.
A man has been jailed for killing a grandad in a fight outside a
Wetherpoon pub in Lewisham.
Charlie Prodromou, 63, died in hospital after he fell and hit his
head when he was punched twice in the face by Paul Tallant, 43,
outside The Watch House pub on March 1.
With Charlie on the floor, Tallant then stood over him celebrating
the attack in a “victor's stance”.
Charlie was described by his family as a “truly good man” with a
“beautifully jolly face.”
Tallant, from Eltham, pleaded guilty to manslaughter stating he had
acted in excessive self-defence as Charlie had started the fight and
had been causing a "nuisance" in the pub.
But Judge Andrew Lees rejected the basis of plea, stating that by
the time of the fatal punch Charlie was retreating and posed no
threat.
Tallant was sentenced to 10-and-a-half year in prison.
A second man - Danny Donovan, 40, of Marshalsea Road in Southwark –
was sentenced to 26 months in prison after he threatened a “good
Samaritan” with a knife when they tried to prevent the fight between
Charlie and Tallant.
Danny Donovan (Image: Met Police).
Woolwich Crown Court heard that Charlie and Tallant did not know
each other but were seen shaking hands and sharing some “friendly
banter” inside the pub around 90 minutes before the fight broke out.
Family members told the court Charlie had been drinking more and
getting into fights following the sudden death of his wife in 2019.
The fight began at around 8.30pm when Charlie refused to leave the
pub when asked when a female staff member saw him smoking inside. He
pushed the staff member and said he loved her.
Tallant intervened and attempted to diffuse the situation but
Charlie got up off his seat to offer Tallant to a fight outside, the
court heard.
Tallant’s attitude then changed from “calm down” to “come on then”,
the court heard.
After Charlie gave Tallant a “light push” on his way out, Tallant
had to be held back by a lady who told him “leave it” - the deceased
then threw a pint glass in his direction.
Judge Andrew Lees said he was satisfied that inside the pub the
fight could be described as “50:50”.
But outside the pub Charlie had attempted to retreat whilst Tallant
followed him in a “boxer’s stance”, the judge said.
“I’m satisfied that you were the aggressor when you came out of the
public house and followed him up the road,” Judge Lees told Tallant.
“I’m satisfied that there was no need for you to pursue the deceased
after he was outside the public house and that there were efforts
made by others to stop you doing so, both orally and by physically
holding you back.”
As Charlie retreated Tallant hit him twice in the face, causing him
to fall and hit his head.
With Charlie on the ground, Tallant flexed his biceps then put his
arms in the air in the “victor’s stance”, the court heard.
When he was arrested it was revealed that Tallant had been "on a
bender" and had drunk heavily and used cocaine prior to the fight.
With regards to Donovan, Judge Lees said that his actions “resulted
in the deceased being left at the mercy of Mr Tallant, who killed
him”.
However, he accepted that Donovan had tried to help Charlie after he
fell to the floor.
At a previous hearing, statements were read from Charlie’s daughters
and grandchildren, painting a picture of a supportive individual who
was still grappling with the loss of his wife at the time of his own
death.
Taeler, one of Charlie’s grandchildren, told the court Tallant
killed her grandad to satisfy his “narcistic need to prove a point”.
“Was it worth it? Was that very moment you robbed a man’s life worth
it?” she asked.
One of Charlie’s daughters, Adele, told Tallant: “That horrific
night you carelessly killed my dad and killed a part of me with him.
“Remember this. You made your choice and may you suffer the rightful
consequences of your own behaviour.”
Concluding her statement, she told Tallant “I hope he haunts you”
and “my dad can rest in peace, but you never will”.
Roy Pershad, of the Crown Prosecution Service, said: “I wish to
express my sincere condolences to the family of Mr. Prodromou.
“Paul Tallant showed no remorse after knocking Mr Prodromou to the
ground, despite it being clear to all present that the victim was
very seriously injured.
“Instead, he waved his hands around in the air in celebration like a
victorious fighter as he walked away from the scene of the crime.
“He tried to claim that he was acting in self-defence but
prosecutors proved otherwise after carefully reviewing CCTV footage
of the crime and gathering a number of witness statements.
“As we head into the festive season, this case highlights the grave
dangers associated with excessive alcohol consumption and the
potential for heightened emotions to escalate into acts of
violence." |
