A soccer hooligan who punched a rival fan to demise has been jailed for manslaughter.
Liam Jones, 20, assaulted Richard Wheeler, 56, throughout an altercation outdoors the Bessemer Pub in Sheffield metropolis centre at round 11pm on July 15.
Mr Wheeler had headed out for what was to be a day of birthday celebrations with associates in Sheffield metropolis centre, however the celebrations got here to a sudden finish when he bought into an altercation with Jones.
After turning into engaged in a scuffle earlier within the day, the pair ran into eachother once more on the metropolis centre pub, the place Jones approached his sufferer and attacked him with one punch to the top that knocked him unconscious and left him with traumatic mind damage.
Mr Wheeler fell backwards after being struck and hit his head on the again of the pavement. He was then rushed to hospital in vital situation, the place he died from his accidents ten days later.
Jones was jailed for 10 years after pleading responsible to manslaughter at Sheffield Crown Courtroom on Friday.
The court docket heard how Jones, a Sheffield United fan, was ‘motivated by the deceased’s allegiance to Sheffield Wednesday Soccer Membership’.
Through the trial, Richard’s spouse Tracy Wheeler referred to as her husband her ‘rock’.
‘I hoped and praying he would pull via. I wouldn’t depart his facet,’ she informed the court docket. ‘By no means will I come to phrases with having him taken from me.’
‘Watching him cross was traumatic, and that picture will stick with me perpetually.
‘He was my rock, emotionally and bodily. He helped me via remedy final yr for breast most cancers. I’ve another operation however I can’t convey myself to undergo it alone.
‘I really feel anger and hatred for the one who is answerable for my residing life alone. Irrespective of how a lot it hurts, I owe it to Richard to see that justice is served.’
She added: ‘This yr ought to have been a celebration – my fiftieth birthday, our 10-year wedding ceremony anniversary, 30 years collectively, and beating breast most cancers.
‘Now all I’ve is an urn.’
Jones had beforehand informed probation officers he was the chief of a Sheffield United hooligan group.
On the night time of the assault, Jones was captured on CCTV assaulting three different males who had been a part of Mr Wheeler’s group at one other pub, Maggie Could’s in Trippet Lane.
Jones had punched a person in the course of the incident, leaving him with a reduce to his head which required glueing.
He additionally smashed a glass into the face of one other man, prosecutors mentioned.
Later within the night, Jones discovered himself reunited with the group at The Bessemer Pub, and attacked Wheeler shortly after leaving the pub by way of a fireplace door.
The assault was ‘partially’ caught on CCTV.
Choose Wright, sentencing, mentioned: ‘This was surprising, appalling violence in a public place.
She added: ‘Whether or not it was associated to soccer or not, you had been intent on violence.’
‘You will have used your allegiance to a soccer membership to justify your use of violence, justifying it to your self and others.’
‘You’re clearly a younger man missing maturity and have learnt little from earlier incidents.’
Jones’ earlier offences included punching an opposition fan on the street, threatening behaviour, and throwing a missile at a soccer match.
He has been jailed for seven years, with an prolonged three years on licence in the neighborhood.
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