" A HEARTBREAKING TRAGEDY "

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The widow of a Wales football fan killed outside Wembley Stadium has spoken of her grief as the England fan who delivered the fatal punch was jailed for three years.

Michael Dye, 44, from Cardiff, died from head injuries inflicted in a "heartbreaking" attack by what one witness described as a single "sickening punch" before a crucial Euro 2012 qualifier between England and Wales on September 6.

Ian Mytton, 41, of Gately Close, Redditch, pleaded guilty last month to the manslaughter of the father-of-three and wept in court at the Old Bailey in London as he was sentenced.

In a statement read out in court, the victim’s wife Nathalie Dye, who wiped tears from her eyes throughout the sentencing, said: "The man who caused Mike’s death might as well have killed me that night. Part of me died alongside Mike.

"The only thing to look forward to is being with my darling husband once again."

It is understood Mr Dye’s family is now considering appealing to have the sentence increased. It which stipulates Mytton will be released on licence after 18 months.

CCTV footage showed Mytton approaching Mr Dye on a concourse outside the stadium, in north-west London, before punching him once at about 7.20pm, 25 minutes before the match kicked off, and then walking away.

Mr Dye fell and suffered a fractured skull.

He was taken to Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, after suffering a fractured skull but died soon after his arrival.

Prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC said one eyewitness described the punch as "sickening".

"It was something you would see in a boxing ring," said the witness.

"As a football fan I have seen many scuffles but the force of that punch was such that it was something I will never forget." said the witness.

Judge Anthony Morris said: "As you said in your letter to me – ‘the two people, Michael Dye and myself were just going to a football match, for one of us to lose his life and for one of us to end up in prison is heartbreaking’ – and I would agree with that.

"It is a tragedy, most of all for the family and friends of Michael Dye. They have lost a husband, a brother, a father and a friend."

He described the attack as "unprovoked" and the force of the blow as "considerable".

The judge said Mr Dye was "pole-axed" from the force of the punch and fell backwards without trying to stop himself, hitting his head on the ground and suffering "massive brain damage".

He acknowledged that Mytton had drunk five pints of lager that day and was holding a can of Strongbow as he and five friends approached Mr Dye and his friend Anthony Riella, who had also been drinking.

But in mitigation he recognised the fact that Mytton handed himself in to police and was now suffering from depression.

Earlier, prosecutor Mr Bennetts described Mytton and his friends shouting abuse at Mr Riella and Mr Dye.

"There were shouts of ‘you f****** sheep s*******’ and ‘f*** off’," said Mr Riella in a witness statement.

He said he and Mr Dye then looked at the shouting group and laughed. Soon after, Mytton and a group of five others approached the pair.

Mr Riella said Mr Dye told the group to "leave it out", but Mytton then punched him, knocking him to the ground.

Mytton, an Aston Villa fan, wept as Mr Bennetts read out victim impact statements from Mrs Dye and Mr Dye’s sister, Katherine Dye.

Mrs Dye said: "Since I lost my wonderful husband my world has been crushed. It has been a living hell.

"I am unable to eat for fear of having a moment of enjoyment without my husband."

Mr Bennetts said Mrs Dye had lost shed a lot of weight and now weighed seven stone.

"I suffer from anxiety attacks and I have had to move house," she said.

Mrs Dye said her husband "was the ideal hero and role model" to his children, Rebecca, James and Christopher, who are all in their 20s.

"Even the dog still sleeps in the last jumper Mike was wearing," she said.

Sister Ms Dye said: "I can never forget the day me and my parents were taken to the mortuary to identify his body.

"It is the last thing I see at night."

Mytton’s defence lawyer, Simon Stirling, for the defence, said in mitigation: "[Mytton’s] remorse for what he did and the suffering he caused them [the Dye family] is real, genuine and heartfelt."

Mr Stirling said Mytton had no previous convictions, was never involved in football violence before and had originally planned to take his daughter to the match, before realising it was a school night.

There were sobs from the public gallery as Mytton’s sentence was read out. He was sentenced to three years in jail that will take into account the 100 days he has already spent in custody.

But Annis Abraham, a lifelong friend of Mr Dye’s who attended September’s match with him, said he was "stunned" by the sentence’s leniency.

He said: "I’m stunned. They are giving other football fans 18 months for threatening behaviour and violent disorder and for jumping up and down in the street.

"No-one’s ever saying he intended to kill but there’s no comfort for the family.

"I feel for the family – now they are the ones left suffering. The wound is even bigger now.

"At every game, he is still being spoken about. He will never be forgotten – he definitely won’t."

Mytton has also been given a six-year football banning order prohibiting him from attending football matches inside and outside the UK.

Detective Inspector Colette Smyth, of the Metropolitan Police’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "Michael Dye lost his life in a senseless and shocking attack for no apparent reason.

"Mytton’s fatal actions may have only lasted seconds, but the consequences of his violence towards a completely innocent football fan will last forever.

"As always, and especially at this time of the year, our thoughts are with Michael’s family and relatives.

"The sentence today and the football banning order should serve as a reminder to anyone attending a sporting event that the consequences of your actions can be far reaching and have significant impact on the rest of your life."

Mr Dye, from the Ely area of Cardiff, was a prominent Cardiff City supporter who used to help arrange transport for away games.

He worked as a stonemason for the Cardiff council’s highways department and used to post about his beloved Bluebirds on the Cardiff City Forum internet site.

A Facebook page called RIP MIKE DYE set up after his death has 10,122 followers.

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Read about his sentencing and it's disgraceful!!

What she must be going through now as it's been said makes it's so much worse,
Her world has been turned upside down and now has to struggle on knowing that Mikeys killer could be free again in 18 mths,

Hope the murderer rots in prison!!!

RIP MIKEY

Hard to read, impossible to imagine how the family feel
No justice at all

corkys son got 15 months for throwing a traffic cone others got over 12 months for shouting and chanting at the chelsea game so how the hell can a supporter get the same for taking a life, this is beyond me and hope that an appeal is done and a tougher sentence is giving.

i could only read half of that. it really got to me still cant believe it i only met him once or twice and still devastated bout it. cant imigine how his family and close friends are feeling.

how come theres hardly any exposure in the papers and the news and ive yet to see a photo of the mytton guy?
seems to have been brushed under the carpet

what f.cking planet are these so called judges on?
the message they send out is that crime pays.

I've said my bit on this subject and will not contribute any further as I'll blow a fuse in my little brain.

Carl, Annis, see my post to TaffyApple, boycot all "newspapers" hit the bastards in their pocket, the only thing they understand. As for the judge, I'd love to have him when I top my wife, probably get a 50 pound fine and a don't do it again nod.

Some serious "behind the scenes" stuff going on this. The tw*t must have contacts as there's no way in the so called british system that allows this.

I'm gutted over this whole affair and I didn't know Mr. Dye so it not a personal vendetta. A man goes to watch a football match, gets wacked by a piss head, five pints and a can of cider? That in my opinion is not a piss head and as for he was going to take his daughter but forgot it was a school night?

Slot the tw*t

Absolute disgrace!!

This made me chuckle a bit. Like if they think it's a tough sentence.

"The sentence today and the football banning order should serve as a reminder to anyone attending a sporting event that the consequences of your actions can be far reaching and have significant impact on the rest of your life."

Jokers, the lot of them!!

Absolute disgrace!!

This made me chuckle a bit. Like if they think it's a tough sentence.

"The sentence today and the football banning order should serve as a reminder to anyone attending a sporting event that the consequences of your actions can be far reaching and have significant impact on the rest of your life."

Jokers, the lot of them!!

Totally agree. Also why is Mytton suffering from depression? From his f**king perspective he has got away with murder.

What can you do though ? The law is shite and we all know it , just hope City get to Wembley again in Feb and we can pay our respects outside on the concorse

how come theres hardly any exposure in the papers and the news and ive yet to see a photo of the mytton guy?
seems to have been brushed under the carpet

Jinks, I have wondered why no photo of the murderer has ever been released.

The word "tragedy" is much overused nowadays but as far as Mike's family is concerned it could not be more appropriate.

What a truly tragic loss of a life.

To read his wife's statement is heartbreaking and hopefully she and Mike's children can take some small comfort at this time knowing that they are very much in all of our thoughts this Christmas.

I never met you Mike but rest in peace.

how come theres hardly any exposure in the papers and the news and ive yet to see a photo of the mytton guy?
seems to have been brushed under the carpet

Jinks, I have wondered why no photo of the murderer has ever been released.

Reprisals, the guy will be a hunted man when he gets released.

I can't put into words what I feel. this country has lost everything I thought it was about. I will have to stop writing now or I will just lose it. If Mrs Dye and the family are asking for donations for the appeal. I will stump up £ 50. ATB. Reeco

Pathetic sentance from a pathetic justice system

the judge seems to have forgotten that this was not a tradgic accident,but murder.....i hope this murderer lives his life in f*cking hell

Absolute joke do not condone football violence but 12 months for bouncing up and down and 18 months for killing an innocent man there is something drastically wrong and it makes you mad

My heart goes out to Mikeys wife and family especially at this time of year.

RIP Mikey

RIP MY OLD AND CLOSE FRIEND MIKEY DYE.