A man has been jailed for killing a former international cycling champion who died from “catastrophic” head injuries after trying to stop a row.

Luke Jolly punched Ray Eden in the face after he tried to calm down an argument between Jolly and his girlfriend near their home in Scawthorpe, Doncaster.

Jolly, 24, was jailed for four years and nine months after pleading guilty to manslaughter.

Mr Eden, 42, who had a wife and 12-year-old son, won the national 100-mile time trial cycling championship in 1995 and represented Great Britain four times in stage racing. He was also a keen rower, and worked for cycle firm Planet X.

Det Insp Steve Leach, from South Yorkshire Police, said: “Such was the ferocity of the punch, Mr Eden had no time to defend himself.  Jolly tried to drag Mr Eden to his feet and when he realised he could not, dropped him, banging his head once more.”

Police said that as neighbours came to administer first aid, Jolly and his girlfriend fled the scene in Jolly’s car.

Mr Eden died three days later in hospital.