A YOUNG Wirral woman has been convicted of kicking a retired librarian to death.

Rebecca Welch, 19, was cleared of murdering George Holleseter but had admitted killing him and the jury consequently convicted her of manslaughter.

Liverpool Crown Court heard after her conviction that she allegedly has an "explosive temper" and had a poor school record for behaviour including bullying.

It was also suggested she had had a reputation at school for fighting and getting into trouble.

The petite teenager had been on bail but the judge Mr Justice Nelson remanded her in custody while a further report into her school behaviour and a pre-sentence report are prepared.

During her seven day trial the jury heard that the attack happened as 60-year-old Mr Holleseter, described as a gentle Christian, was walking home from The Brighton public house in Seacombe.

Also in the pub that night, March 3, was Welch, who was with two male friends. They had also been all been drinking quite heavily. Welch angrily claimed Mr Holleseter had been following her and was looking at her.

She said: "If he carries on looking or following me I'll slap him or smack him across the head,""alleged Andrew Menary, QC, prosecuting.

On the way home Mr Holleseter was walking some distance behind them and after they went to the home of one of them they decided to call the police because Mr Holleseter seemed to be behaving oddly.

But meanwhile Welch came back out onto Brighton Street and punched and kicked Mr Holleseter and had to be dragged away by her friends. They went back inside and Mr Holleseter carried on his way, claimed Mr Menary.

Welch came out again and forced him backwards before knocking him to the ground. She then began kicking him in the chest despite a friend trying to pull her away. It was claimed she also repeatedly stamped on him but she denied this.

Eventually she was taken back to the flat and one of her friends put the victim in the recovery position and called the paramedics.

Mr Holleseter had suffered severe facial and head injuries and died three and a half weeks later, never having regained consciousness.

Welch, of Littledale Road, Wallasey, admitted to the court that she had started the violence as he was mumbling "stuff" which made her feel paranoid.

She said she had not shouted at him. "I turned round and I kicked him because I felt scared and I don't know why I did it. I slapped out at him."

Welch said she turned round and saw him lying in the alleyway and she ran over and kicked him in the stomach. "I kicked him about twice. I'm so sorry for what I've done."

She claimed one of her friends was kicking him in the head and denied that she had kicked or stamped on the victim's head.

Welch, who has no previous convictions, is to be sentenced in the week beginning February 5.

In a victim impact statement Mr Holleseter's son, David Holden, told how his seven-year-old son has been adversely affected by the loss of his grandfather, whom he doted on.

Mr Holden said his father was a devoted family man, who worked at Liverpool's Central Library for 11 years before running his own book shop for a short while.

He added: "He was a very quiet man with no enemies and who went to church every weekend. He was his mother's main carer and went there every day.

"He was a Christian and would cause no-one any harm and was very gentle."

Mr Holden added that the family had to wait four months before they could have his father's funeral and they are still waiting to afford a headstone "which is making me feel guilty and sad".

Mr Justice Nelson said: "No-one can think anything other than that this was a dreadful needless tragedy in a wholly unwarranted attack on a 60-year-old man.

"The material from the family demonstrates only too clearly what a dreadful loss it is."