A THUG who punched a millionaire banking boss to death outside the swanky Ivy club causing his brother to take his own life has been jailed.
Steven Allan launched into the savage attack after wrongly believing Paul Mason, 52, had stolen his friend's mobile.
The 34-year-old knocked Paul, a CEO for Qatar National Bank, to the ground outside the exclusive Ivy Club in Soho, central London.
He then landed an uppercut on the millionaire when he tried to get up – with witnesses hearing a sickening crunch as his skull made contact with the pavement.
Allan then shouted "where's your fight now?" as Paul lay stricken before he fled in a rikshaw.
He died in hospital six months after the horror attack in December 2020.
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Electrician Allan has now been jailed for three years and nine months after he was convicted of murder.
Paul's sister Rachel Mason said in a victim impact statement she will be "haunted forever".
The NHS worker added: "A feeling of melancholy will consume me for the rest of my life as I have to live without Paul.
"You've broken my family for evermore. I'm overwhelmed with feelings of shock, disbelief and hatred towards you. How dare you take Paul's life?
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"We ultimately watched Paul die as the brain damage you caused took his life and the life support was withdrawn.
"His previously fit and healthy body wasted away in front of us over three days. All we could do was watch him die."
Rachel also told how brother Simon tragically relapsed into alcoholism and took his own life three months after Paul's death.
She said he was "consumed with trauma and grief" and told how she has been left with no siblings at all.
The Old Bailey heard Allan had been drinking in various bars before he confronted Paul, who was leaving the Ivy with a friend.
He marched over to the banker and tried to grab something off him before punching him.
Allan then lashed out a second time as Paul tried to scramble away before landing a final blow that caused his victim to fly back and land on his back with his head hitting the pavement.
Before fleeing the scene, Allan took Paul's phone, telling onlookers: “That’s my friend’s phone. He stole my friend’s phone.”
Police released images of the suspect with Allan later handing himself in.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley said: “Paul Mason’s death tragically illustrates the consequences of resorting to physical violence.
"Even where there is no murderous intent, there is no guarantee that a violent attack won’t result in death.
“Mr Mason’s family was devastated by this incident. It began with a punch that resulted in a serious brain injury and went on to become a bedside vigil that spanned half a year.
"They have had the unenviable experience of a trial and now a retrial and my thoughts are with them today."
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