Man found guilty of killing younger brother with punch during 'play-fight' in Rossendale
Brent Clayton punched his younger brother at Waterfoot Social Club in November 2024
Last updated 1st Oct 2026
A man has been found guilty of killing his brother with a punch at a social club in Rossendale.
Brent Clayton, 62, punched his younger brother Simon at Waterfoot Social Club on 23 November 2024.
Simon, who was 58, fell backwards and hit his head on the floor.
He was taken to hospital but later died from his injuries.
The incident was captured on CCTV, showing the brothers appearing to play-fight.
Events escalated after Simon “catches” Clayton and Clayton moves forward and throws two hard punches to Simon’s face.
Simon fell backwards and hit his head on the floor.
Clayton then raises his arms up in “victory”.
A Home Office Post-mortem Examination found that Simon had died from a hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury due to cardiac arrest and blunt force trauma to the head, with acute alcohol intoxication being a contributing factor.
Clayton, of Taylor Avenue, Rossendale, was charged with manslaughter and pleaded not guilty at Preston Crown Court.
He has now been found guilty by a jury and will be sentenced at the same court on 14 October.
Detective Inspector Tris Hardwick said: “This is a devastatingly sad case that shows it only takes one punch to take a life, and to ruin your own.
“Simon’s family have had to come to terms, not only with the fact that he has died, but that he was killed by his older brother – someone who he was meant to be able to trust implicitly."
He added: “Clayton didn’t go out that night with the intention of taking a life, but he became intoxicated, he thought it was a good idea to mock a fight with his brother. There was nothing pretend about the punch that killed Simon."