THE SON of a mechanic who was killed by a friend has called for the length of prison licence conditions to be extended.

Kane Manning, 20, of Portslade, said his life was changed forever after his father, Mark Manning, was bludgeoned to death in April 19, 2014 by a friend over a debt.

The killer, Colin Gale, of Worthing, owed Mr Manning £17,000 and he killed his friend at P&B Sales garage in Western Road, Lancing.

Gale was jailed 15 years for manslaughter at Lewes Crown Court in March 2017.

Gale’s accomplice, Stewart Robertson, was released from prison on licence to the supervision of the probation service on May 25.

Robertson helped Gale dispose of Mr Manning body. He was sentenced to four years for preventing a lawful burial.

Under the probation order, Robertson is not to approach Mr Manning or his family, and not to enter a part of Sussex, which is south of the A27, including the seafront.

Robertson’s conditions will remain in force until his sentence expires in May 2020.

Mr Manning said: “I think the licensing should be extended because when my father died it changed our lives.

“I think the system is a disgrace and I’m really disappointed. At the end of the day, it’s what he had done to my father.

“Right now, it is what it is, but I think the justice system should consider how the victim’s family is affected. I fear the conditions are not strict enough.

“I think the licence conditions should be revised and there should be tougher conditions.”

“After my father died it had a huge impact on my family and I.

When police couldn’t find his body, it was a nightmare for us.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I’ve been through.

“After the two men were sentenced, it was a closure for us.”

Mr Manning described his father, who had worked as a bomb disposal expert, as a popular man who loved helping others. He also said he was very close to his father.

Mr Manning said: “I looked up to my father. Family and friends described him as a loyal, brave and a happy guy.

“He enjoyed helping people and he had inspired me to become a better person and to join the military.

“I lived with my father for three years and we enjoyed fishing together.

“We had our own boat, and we went on holidays in Thailand.

“We also went karting, golf, buying cars and selling motorbikes.”

Background

Mark Manning died when he was 54. He had worked for the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), a charity backed by Diana, Princess of Wales.

The charity helps removes landmines and other hazards in some of the world’s poorest countries.

He then sold cars, and made a good living from it. Gale had been good friends with Mr Manning. One was a mechanic and the other a car dealer.

However, their friendship came to a bloody end. The court heard Gale told his wife that he owed his friend around £150,000.

Police found Mr Manning’s body in May 2016 at a woodland site in Slaugham.