A man who claimed he once rescued his wife from kidnappers has been jailed for six-and-a-half years after killing a love rival over a £20,000 debt.

Shpendi Hakili, 38, was found guilty of manslaughter after trial at Maidstone Crown Court following the incident in Strood.

Hakili denied causing the death of Sazan Bako, 35, in Cuxton Road at about 8.45pm on November 20.

Mr Bako, from Maidstone, had became involved in an argument with Hakili, from Glasgow, which resulted in him being assaulted.

The force of the assault caused the 35-year-old to fall backwards and hit his head on the pavement. He died in hospital three weeks later.

The jury heard how Hakili lost his temper and struck the victim across the face "without warning or provocation”.

Now, Judge Julian Smith told him there was no justification for what he did and he could find no evidence of remorse.

He said the incident, which was caught on camera, revealed no actions from Mr Bako which were threatening.

The judge added that Hakili's actions "whether it was punishment or a lesson or intended to be a warning, it was an aggressive act”.

Following the incident officers from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate launched an investigation and initially arrested two people in connection with the incident. They were later released without charge.

Prosecutor Daniel Stevenson told Maidstone Crown Court: "Hakili's actions led directly to Mr Bako's’s premature death. The defendant may not have meant to kill him but that is exactly what he did."

He said there was a meeting in Strood between Hakili, his brother Shpati and Henerik Bato, the brother of the dead man, who it was claimed owed £20,000.

"They believed that Henerik Bako was instrumental in Hakili being arrested and jailed for a drugs trafficking in 2018

"They considered that Mr Bako should pay Hakili owed money and the victim went to the meeting to try to mediate on his brother's behalf."

Detectives continued investigations and in March 2023 Albanian Hakili, formerly of Woodstock Road, Strood was arrested in France. He was later charged with manslaughter.

Investigating officer Detective Inspector Adam Marshall of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “Hakili’s inability to control his emotions meant a life was lost in a momentary act of aggression. He may not have intended to kill someone, but it is right that he serves a custodial sentence.

“Thanks to the hard work and perseverance of officers, we were able to secure the evidence necessary to bring him to justice.”