Five teenagers who beat a father to death after joking he looked like Ant or Dec have been locked up for the brutal attack. Danny Humble was walking home from a night out when he was punched to the ground, kicked and stamped on.
The 35-year-old had enjoyed his first night out with his partner after lockdown ended when the incident occurred in Cramlington, Northumberland. One of the five said Mr Humble looked like TV presenters Anthony McPartlin or Declan Donnelly but there was no immediate trouble, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
A witness remembered hearing Mr Humble laughing, saying, "Aye good one, lads", and one of the group saying, "Can I have your autograph? You’re my inspiration."
Something then caused the victim to hit Soones on the head. But the judge said the gang’s subsequent 15 to 20-second attack, leaving Mr Humble with horrific head injuries, could never be justified.
A witness had told police "they didn't miss a part of his body" as they were "kicking him in". Ms Stubbs tried to perform first aid and dialled 999, trying "desperately but fruitlessly" to save her partner, the court heard.
Ex-soldier Alistair Dickson, 18, of Hawkins Way, Blyth, Northumberland, was convicted of murder after jurors were told he stamped on Mr Humble’s head. Mr Justice Bennathan sentenced him to detention at His Majesty’s pleasure – the equivalent of a life sentence for someone his age – and must serve a minimum of 12 years.
Four others, Ethan Scott, 18, Bailey Wilson, 19, and Owen Soones, 18, all from Blyth, and Kyros Robinson, 18, from Seaton Delaval, were cleared of murder but convicted of manslaughter. They were jailed for six years and six months.
The judge 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.”
In a victim impact statement, Mr Humble’s partner Adele Stubbs, a critical care nurse, said she is no longer able to do the job she loved because of the trauma she experienced. His father Vaughan told the court his son was “caring, loving and compassionate and this was reciprocated by almost everybody he came into contact with”.
His son loved being a father of a boy, eight, and girl, six, who must now grow up without him, he said. “The catastrophic impact caused by the loss of their daddy will stay with them and have a real bearing forever more,” he said.
Nigel Edwards, defending Dickson, said there was no intention to kill and that he 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 and Penny Hall, for Robinson, said her client lacked maturity and was 17 at the time of the offence. While Jonathan Pigford, for Wilson, said his client was “extremely distressed” when he talked about this “terrible, tragic event”.
