THE family of a pensioner who died after being punched in the face have slammed his killer's sentence as too soft.

Sean Lucas, 24, of Burnside Avenue, Chingford, was jailed for four years today for the manslaughter of “gentle giant” Clifford Champion, 64, in an unprovoked attack at a petrol station in Chingford.

Following the sentencing at the Old Bailey today, the victim's wife, daughter and one of his two sons told the Guardian on behalf of the Champion family: "The sentence is too soft. It doesn't reflect the crime and we are disappointed that the legal system does not seem to be able to define an appropriate sentence for a crime such as this.

"He could be out in two years. Is that the value of someone's life?

“He attacked a defenceless and elderly man who tried to walk away from a confrontation, not once but twice, only to be followed by someone who was intent on harming him.”

The court heard that the grandfather had been buying cigarettes for a beggar in Chingford Mount Road when Lucas believed they were arguing and approached him.

Lucas was seen by the beggar and on CCTV, following Mr Champion towards Westward Road, “bouncing on his heels like a boxer” then punching him in the head, causing him to fall back and fracture his skull.

Lucas fled the scene and the grandfather was later found ten minutes later by a taxi driver lying in a pool of blood at 3.30am.

The father-of-three suffered a heart attack while being treated by paramedics in the street and died three days later from a head injury.

Sally Howes QC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Champion had bi polar disorder and had been receiving psychiatric treatment and medication from a psychatrist for 16 years who described him as “an extremely intelligent, articulate and energetic man”.

Miss Howes said on the night of the attack, on February 24, the beggar, a drug adddict who regularly drove around Chingford at night begging to pay for crack cocaine, asked Mr Champion for money and had found in him “a really pleasant guy” with a “sympathetic ear”.

Miss Howe told the court that during the exchange between Lucas and Mr Champion in the forecourt, there was no sign of aggression from Mr Champion.

Sonia Woodley, defending, told the court that Mr Champion's psychiatrist said his patient didn't take his medication for his manic depression regularly and as a result Lucas may have been faced with a “more volatile” person than the witness said.

She said the father-of-one, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter at an earlier hearing, was deeply remorseful for his actions and had apologised to Mr Champion's family by letter.

Sentencing Lucas, Judge Paget QC said: “You caused the death of a 64-year-old man who wasn't in good health in a wholly unprovoked attack.”

He went on: “This wasn't a tragic case where someone is provoked to throw a punch which causes death, there was no provocation.”

His family described Mr Champion as a "gentle giant" and said it was typical he was trying to help someone in need.

His daughter, who did not want to be named, added: "He took pleasure in making people smile and was a great dad to me and a wonderful grandfather to my kids.”