The family of a man who died after an attack outside a bar have paid tribute to the "peaceful, gentle and caring" dad.

Matthew Bion, 31, had gone for drinks with his partner and friends at Reid's bar in Laindon Road, Billericay, on Saturday August 17 2019.

As Matthew and his friends left the bar in the early hours, an argument broke out between two groups who had been in the same venue that night. One of these groups contained Dennie Griffiths and Jade Chambers.

Matthew was trying to calm the situation when he was punched by Griffiths, causing him to fall to the ground. Griffiths then ran away.

An ambulance treated Matthew at the scene for a serious head injury before taking him to hospital.

When officers arrived at Laindon Road, they arrested Jade Chambers, of Hermitage Drive, on suspicion of affray. She had helped Griffiths to leave the scene, thereby avoiding police.

A few hours later, Griffiths was arrested at his home address in Paynters Mead on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

Matthew, from Wickford, remained in hospital in a serious condition but died of his injuries on Tuesday August 27 2019.

A post-mortem examination recorded that he died as a result of head injuries.

Dennie Griffiths, 28, was convicted of the manslaughter of Matthew Bion when he appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday (Tuesday September 21), while his co-defendant, Jade Chambers, 24, was found guilty of assisting an offender.

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In a statement following yesterday's verdicts, the family said: “Enduring this court hearing has been a painful journey through the tragedy of Matthew needlessly losing his life.

"Matthew was a peaceful, gentle and caring man - it will forever bring his family and friends such pain that his life was taken through such reckless and unnecessary violence.

"As a family we take little joy from this verdict. In spite of our suffering we have never been vengeful, and had hoped for remorse but take some comfort from this outcome.

"We are very grateful for the diligence, hard work and support of the police, CPS and many others in bringing the case to a successful conclusion.

"We thank them for their dedication in securing some justice for Matthew and those so deeply affected by the void he leaves in our lives, especially for those of his two young children.”

Following an investigation by the Serious Crime Directorate, Dennie Griffiths was summonsed to appear at Basildon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday October 22 2019 to answer a charge of manslaughter.

Jade Chambers was summonsed to the same court to answer a charge of assisting an offender. They denied the offences.

But yesterday, the jury found them both guilty after two days deliberation. Dennie Griffiths was found guilty of manslaughter and Jade Chambers of assisting an offender.

They will be sentenced at a later date.