AFTER almost seven hours, a jury unanimously found a security guard guilty of delivering a ‘fatal blow’ to a shoplifter leading to his death.

Sabeur Trabelsi punched Jason Page causing him to fall and suffer from ‘survivable’ head injuries in Lower Earley on March 31, 2021.

The incident happened after Mr Page, who was 52 years old at the time, stole £300 of meat and a box of Moretti beer alongside another man, Oswald Walker, from the Marks and Spencers store in Chalfont Way.

READ MORE: Shoplifter 'punched' by guard died from 'catastrophic and unsurvivable' injuries

Trabelsi, 44, of King’s Road, Reading, was a security guard at the store at the time and chased after Mr Page to retrieve the goods.

He then punched Mr Page, who was homeless at the time and living in the Salvation Army Hostel, after allegedly being threatened with a needle.

Mr Page then fell to the floor and M&S duty manager Elliott Cripps, who had followed Trabelsi, called an ambulance. He sadly died in hospital the following evening and Trabelsi was arrested.

His injuries were described as ‘catastrophic’ and were consistent with blunt force trauma.

After six hours and 52 minutes of deliberation, a jury found Trabelsi guilty of manslaughter at Reading Crown Court today (May 4).

READ MORE: GUILTY: Security guard found guilty of manslaughter of shoplifter

The security guard, who was employed by Professional Security UK, was also found guilty of perverting the course of justice by informing the ambulance crews and police that Mr Page had fallen where he had gone to run away from him.

Mr Cripps, 27, of Ashbourne Crescent, Taunton, was also on trial after being charged with perverting the course of justice.

However, he was found not guilty unanimously by the jury. As the results was read out, he looked nervous while in the dock, wearing a light grey suit. He held his hands to his face with relief and started crying.

Mr Cripps was then released from the dock and was free to leave the court building.

He has told the court he was ‘in shock’ when he was informing the emergency workers about what had happened an was speaking on ‘auto pilot’.

Mr Cripps said his priority was ensuring that Mr Page received the medical help he needed.

READ MORE: Everything from the trial here

Trabelsi, who looked solemn as the results were delivered, has now been remanded in custody until his sentencing date at the same court on June 12.

The case was adjourned for a pre-sentence report to be prepared before Trabelsi can be sentenced.