A policeman today slammed the judicial system which jailed his brother's killer for less time than a mobile phone thief could receive.

"The law is an ass," was how Metropolitan Police PC Andy Evans summed up his feelings after Shane Manville received three years yesterday for killing Anthony Evans in Brighton.

PC Evans said: "A man last week was jailed for four years for stealing a mobile phone - three years for the life of my brother who meant so much to his family is cheap.

"It says a lot when materialistic things like phones are worth more than a human life."

Manville, 26, of Glynde Road, Brighton, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Lewes Crown Court.

He punched Mr Evans, a 29-year-old plasterer, of Bolsover Road, Hove, in The Escape Club on Brighton seafront in January last year.

Mr Evans died later that night from a brain haemorrhage.

His parents Maureen and Tony, who live in Shoreham, were in court for the sentencing. Mrs Evans, 62, was in tears afterwards.

PC Evans, 40, said the family was pre-warned Manville would get between one and four years and it was little comfort that he received a sentence towards the top end of the scale.

He said the family was also angry that Mr Evans's name was tainted in court and that his brother was made out to be the instigator of the conflict who got what he deserved.

He said: "My brother was no angel but he just wasn't like that. He would never have started any trouble, unlike Manville who has previous convictions for violence.

"We would have preferred a not guilty plea so everything the defence said against my brother could have been rebutted."

Speaking on behalf of the family, PC Evans said: "We are a law-abiding, decent family that tries to do the right thing. We know the judge had his hands tied on the length of sentence. But the law is an ass.

"What sort of message is this going to give anyone with a propensity to violence?"

More than 400 people attended Mr Evans's funeral. His organs were donated and helped save the lives of six people, including a young girl.

The youngest of four brothers, Mr Evans played football for the Golden Cross pub in Portland Road, Hove. Regulars there raised cash for Mr Evans's two young daughters, Elle and Lauren.

Their mothers were also in court yesterday.

PC Evans said: "What are they going to tell their children when they grow up? That a man killed their daddy and got just three years?

"I wish Anthony had had a mobile phone on him and Manville had stolen it. He would have got a longer sentence."

Detective Chief Inspector Bill Warner, who headed the investigation, said he sympathised with the family: "But the court's hands were tied by stated cases.

"A so-called one-punch manslaughter often results in a sentence of one or two years.

"I fully appreciate the family's frustration and our thoughts are with them over their tragic loss."