A SWIFT response by police led to the capture of a teenager who killed a popular figure in Hanwell last year.

Today (26), the defendant, who is too young to be named, was sentenced at the Old Bailey for the manslaughter of Jerald Netto, 62, in Boston Road.

Police were called shortly after 12.50am on Sunday, March 19, to reports that a man had been assaulted close to the junction with Uxbridge Road.

Officers were on the scene in under five minutes, leading to the suspect being arrested and charged within 24 hours.

Mr Netto was taken to hospital after being assaulted but died later that day from his injuries.

A 16-year-old boy, now 17, was arrested near the scene.

He was sentenced today to 12 months in custody and a further 12 months of supervision in the community, as part of a Detention and Training Order.

Det Chief Insp Brian Howie, who led the investigation, said: “Initially the suspect ran from [officers] but he was quickly detained in a nearby garden.

"his tragic event began with a juTvenile prank by the defendant and culminated with a deliberate assault which resulted in the death of Mr Netto.

"There is no excuse for this type of violence. The defendant was not acting in lawful self-defence and our inquiries soon established that his actions were deliberate and disgraceful.

“My thoughts remain with Mr Netto’s family as they continue to come to terms with his death in such appalling circumstances.

“I know this has been an incredibly difficult time for them and I hope, now legal proceedings have concluded, they can begin to find some peace.”

In a statement Mr Netto’s family said: “Jerald Netto was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend and neighbour.

“We are left scarred for life. We will never come to terms with what happened to him on that terrible night.

“In his last moments, he was humiliated, taken advantage of, attacked and killed by a sadistic criminal.

“Our lives will never be the same. We miss him every day and will continue to as each day passes without him in our world.”

CCTV footage showed the defendant pulled Mr Netto’s trousers down which led to some tussling and pushing, resulting in Mr Netto falling.

There was further tussling before Mr Netto tried to steady himself, but the defendant walked past, swiping Mr Netto’s legs and forcibly pushing him forward in a deliberate and violent act.

Mr Netto fell face first to the pavement. CCTV captured the moment the defendant skips over Mr Netto’s motionless body on the ground and ran off along Boston Road.

Members of the public found a motionless Mr Netto on the pavement and called the police.

Death was due to a brain injury caused by a prolonged cardiac arrest.