THE devastated parents of street violence victim Nathan Ridler have spoken of their "life sentence of heartache without our wonderful son".

Thug Jamie Lee Sloane, who was put behind bars for four years, threw a punch at the 17-year-old after he tried to intervene during an altercation at a late-night takeaway in Bournemouth on February 24.

Defenceless Nathan had his hands in his pockets and fell heavily, hitting his head on the pavement.

Sloane, 18, of Pauntley Road, Christchurch, was sent to a young offenders institution for three years and three months for manslaughter and a further nine months for affray and criminal damage to run consecutively.

Nathan's parents Alan and Deirdre, of The Grove, Moordown, said: "Nathan had a wonderful future ahead of him. Along with Nathan's life being taken away, all of our lives have been destroyed.

"Ridiculously short sentences are sending out the wrong message to the young thugs and murderers today.

"If you take someone's life you should have a life sentence - not just a few years, followed by government handouts to get him started.

"If we need more prisons we should build them. We seem able to find the money to fight wars in any country we choose."

They added: "We need to get our priorities correct and stop this so that other families to not have to endure what we are going through. A life sentence of heartache without our wonderful son and brother Nathan."

Winchester Crown Court heard that Nathan, 17, had been out celebrating a friend's 18th birthday at the Empire nightclub.

Prosecuting Carolyn Branford-Wood said at about 2am Nathan and his friends moved on to Subway in Holdenhurst Road, where an altercation took place with Sloane and his friends.

Sloane had tried to hit someone over the head with a beer glass and it was at this point Nathan had intervened, Miss Branford-Wood said.

She added: "He pushed the defendant off balance slightly, saying to him Just leave it there'."

A short time later, Sloane walked out of Subway and towards Nathan, who was standing a short distance away, and hit him with a single forceful punch.

Eyewitness Thomas Cowd told police: "It was a savage blow to this young chap who was totally defenceless standing there with his hands in his pockets."

Nathan died in hospital at 10pm the same day.

Sloane told police he had felt "verbally intimidated" by the group. Asked why he had left it so long before he punched Nathan, Sloane said: "Well it takes me a bit of time to get my bottle."

She said the affray and criminal damage matters relate to July 15 2007 when drunk Sloane jumped on a car in Christchurch, threw a punch at the owner and tried to get into a house.

Sloane has previous convictions for assault, criminal damage, public order and drink driving.

Frank Abbott, mitigating, said Sloane is sorry and remorseful.

Sentencing Sloane, Judge Guy Boney QC told him: "You are no stranger to the kind of late night casual street violence, usually fuelled by drink, that is the curse of present day city life."