Asher Anderson, aged 35, of Walton Gardens, Wembley was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment for the manslaughter of Andrew Ballantyne, and three months imprisonment for common assault, relating to an incident on the same evening, to be served concurrently.
James Scott, aged 32 of Hawthorne Road, High Wycombe, was sentenced to six years and three months imprisonment for the manslaughter of Andrew Ballantyne. At a hearing on 10 February at Reading Crown Court Anderson and Scott pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Daniel Ramsey, aged 25, of Micklefield Road, High Wycombe and Ramah Lampkin, aged 24, of Rowan Avenue, High Wycombe, both pleaded guilty to violent disorder also on 10 February.
Ramsey was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and Lampkin was sentenced to two years and two months’ imprisonment.
Nickolas Williams, aged 26, of Gibbs Close, High Wycombe was sentenced to a year and six months imprisonment for violent disorder in connection with the death of Andrew Ballantyne, and was sentenced to eight months imprisonment for assault occasioning actual bodily harm in relation to another incident that evening, to be served consecutively.
Mr Ballantyne, who was 55-years-old, was found by police officers on the floor in Micklefield Road on 31 July last year having been assaulted by a group of men.
As the police officers approached the victim, they ascertained that he was not breathing and therefore commenced CPR. A few minutes later, an ambulance crew attended and continued to give the victim CPR.
Sadly, despite the best efforts of the police officers and ambulance crew, Andrew was declared deceased at the scene.
The five men were arrested and charged with Mr Ballantyne’s murder in August 2021.
Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Kev Brown, of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Unit, said: “This sad case highlights starkly the outcomes of violent incidents, perpetrated by groups against vulnerable individuals which can lead to serious injuries, or sadly in this case, death.
“This was an opportunistic but targeted attack by the group on Andrew who was well known to all of them. They assaulted him, filmed the assault and fled when police happened across the incident. All of the defendants pleaded guilty to participation, in varying degrees, in the violence that caused Andrew’s unlawful killing. Anderson and Williams also pleaded guilty to violent offences in connection with an assault on another man 40 minutes earlier when the whole group of five were present.
“I would like to thank Andrew Ballantyne’s family and friends for their patience while we investigated this difficult case and the passionate Victim Personal Statements read in court. They have had to endure a harrowing time while we investigated, and no family deserve to suffer this sort of ordeal.
“I am satisfied that those accountable have been convicted in relation to Andrew’s death and that these five men have each admitted responsibility for their actions in Andrew’s unlawful killing.
“Our thoughts remain with Andrew’s family and friends following this needless and tragic incident, and I hope that, in time, they can take some solace in knowing that the people responsible for his death have been sentenced to prison as a result.”
