A father who started a late-night row which led to his son killing another man has been fined £340.

Mark Venn was "the first domino to fall" in a chain of events which ended with the death of Colin Stewart.

Earlier this month James Venn, 23, was jailed for three years for manslaughter.

At Crawley Magistrates Court on Friday his father admitted threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause alarm or distress.

A more serious charge under the Public Order Act was dropped and Venn, 45, was fined £340.

Afterwards Mr Stewart's mother Pauline Gatcum, 57, said the fine was a "slap on the wrist".

She said: "It's ridiculous. We're all devastated a more serious charge was dropped just because he decided to plead guilty to a lesser offence."

Mr Stewart's brother Davey said: "He's got off Scot-free. It's a disgrace."

Laura Turner, prosecuting, told the court Venn had gone into the Esso garage shop in Franklynn Road, Haywards Heath, on June 21 to buy some cigarettes after a drinking session in the Sussex Arms.

When he wrongly thought Mr Stewart had jumped the queue he started swearing at him and became increasingly aggressive.

Ms Turner said a witness heard Venn say "You Southern c***s are all the same" and "I'm going to have you" as Mr Stewart left the shop.

Moments later, while Venn was still paying for cigarettes, James Venn was seen in a scuffle with Mr Stewart on the forecourt, the court heard.

When Venn left the shop he removed his fluorescent jacket and starting pointing and swearing at Mr Stewart, saying "I'm going to f*****g kill you."

Mr Stewart was then punched once in the head by James Venn as he got into his brother's car and was driven to his home in Hanbury Lane, Haywards Heath.

An hour after he was dropped off, he rang a neighbour's doorbell, obviously unwell, and an ambulance was called. He died in hospital four days later of a fractured skull.

Steven Wedd, defending, said Venn was devastated by what had happened and had been depressed and withdrawn since the incident.

He said his client had been disqualified for an unrelated drink driving offence in the interim and lost his job at Heathrow.

He said: "My client is devastated that something so tragic and awful came out of something so innocuous and trivial.

"But he is not responsible for the fight and is not responsible for Colin Stewart's death. He was the first domino to fall in a tragic chain of events."

A court order was made banning publication of Venn's address.