The judge sentencing the young killers of Danny Humble said what should have been a happy night for all, “turned to tragedy”, following a trivial remark.
Mr Humble was surrounded and attacked by a group of at least seven teenagers as he made his way home with his partner in his home town of Cramlington, Northumberland, after the easing of lockdown restrictions, on May 28, last year.
Newcastle Crown Court heard the forerunner to the attack was a comment made by one of the group, that Mr Humble resembled Any McPartlin, one half of the Geordie tv celebrity duo Ant and Dec.
Following a brief lull, the group then surrounded Mr Humble, before punching, kicking and stamping on him, causing catastrophic head injuries.
Despite the efforts of his partner Adele Stubbs, a critical care nurse, at the scene the 35-year-old father-of-two was taken unconscious to hospital, where he died the following day.
Five of the teenage attackers were convicted for their parts in the attack following a lengthy trial earlier this year.
Read more: Danny Humble: The five teens today jailed for Cramlington dad's death
Ex-soldier Alistair Dickson, 18, of Hawkins Way, Blyth, the only one convicted or Mr Humble’s murder, was sentenced to detention at His Majesty’s pleasure, the equivalent of a life sentence for someone of his age.
He must serve a minimum of 12 years behind bars before he can be considered for parole.
Sentences of six-and-a-half years each were imposed on four co-accused, who were cleared or murder, but found guilty of manslaughter.
They are Ethan Scott, 18, Bailey Wilson, 19, and Owen Soones, 18, all from Blyth, and window clearer Kyros Robinson, 18, from Seaton Delaval.
Before passing sentence today, the trial judge, Mr Justice Joel Bennathan, told the defendants: “No sentence I can pass can heal the devastation you have caused.”
He said: “Friday May 28 should have been a happy night out as you and many others marked the end of lockdown by meeting with friends, socialising and going out for a drink.
“Yet what should have been a peaceful night out turned to tragedy when you five killed Danny Humble.”
Soones, being “over-familiar”, made the comment that Mr Humble looked like Ant McPartlin, but there was no immediate trouble.
The judge said something then caused the victim to hit Soones on the head, but he stated that the gang’s subsequent 15 to 20-second attack, “could never be justified”.
In a victim impact statement, Mr Humble’s partner, Adele Stubbs, said she is no longer able to do the nursing job she loved because of the trauma she experienced seeing the attack.
Mr Humble’s father, Vaughan, told the court his son was, “caring, loving and compassionate”, which he said was, “reciprocated by almost everybody he came into contact with”.
He said his son loved being a father of a boy, eight, and girl, six, who must now grow up without him.
“The catastrophic impact caused by the loss of their daddy will stay with them and have a real bearing for evermore,” he said.
Read more: Teenagers launched deadly attack on dad after joking he ‘looked like Ant or Dec’
Nigel Edwards, for Dickson, told the sentencing hearing there was no intention to kill and that his client was a young man who still has hopes and aspirations.
Peter Makepeace, for Soones, said the teenager had “genuine insight” into the loss caused to the Humble family.
Sharon Beattie, for Scott, said he must live with the consequences of his actions and was working hard in prison.
Penny Hall, for Robinson, said her client, 17 at the time of the offence, lacked maturity.
Jonathan Pigford, for Wilson, said his client was “extremely distressed” when he talked about this, “terrible, tragic event”.
Commenting after the hearing, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Kim McGuinness, said: “I, like the whole of our region, was shocked and angered by Danny Humble’s murder.
“My thoughts remain with his partner, children, family and friends, all whose lives have been left devastated by the senseless attack last summer.
“For those who lost their loved one, these sentences may not be enough, and I think many of us will understand why.
“I want to thank our Northumbria Police officers who have worked tirelessly on what has been a difficult case, as well as the local community who were sickened by what happened yet came together to assist police investigations as best they could.
“Sadly, crimes like this serve as a horrible reminder that there is still a job to do in fighting these crimes and changing behaviours.
“We must keep pushing with unrelenting efforts to educate and warn young people about the life-changing consequences of all kinds of violence.
“No other family should suffer a tragedy like Danny’s and we all hope this will never happen again.”
Read next:
Danny Humble murder: Teenagers to be sentenced today after dad's death
DANNY HUMBLE: Parents of Cramlington dad murdered by five teens speak out
DANNY HUMBLE KILLERS: The faces of those responsible for Cramlington dad's death
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