James Howard-Jones, 28, will need care for the rest of his life after the attack in a street in Cheltenham last year (Picture: Gloucestershire News Service)
A man left with severe brain damage after just one punch miraculously woke up right before his life support was going to be turned off.
James Howard-Jones, 28, will need care for the rest of his life after the attack in a street in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, on April 24 last year.
Ben Davies, 24, was jailed for two years and four months after admitting grievous bodily harm without intent.
Judge Martin Picton told the defendant at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday: ‘You’ve destroyed the life and hopes of Mr Howard-Jones – a young man in the prime of life with everything to live for.
‘At the same time, you broke the hearts of his family and friends. The damage you have caused is devastating and lifelong for all those affected by your criminal act.
‘You will serve your sentence and be released. Mr Howard-Jones will never be released from what you have done to him and neither will those who love him.’
Tears were shed around the courtroom as James’s dad gave an emotional victim impact statement.
Ben Davies, 24, was jailed for two years and four months after admitting grievous bodily harm without intent (Picture: Gloucestershire Constabulary)
Neil Howard-Jones told the court: ‘As a result of what happened to James, I need to be his voice so the court can understand the impact this has had on him and our family and close friends.
‘Within the first couple of weeks we were told by the doctors treating James that he was brain dead and the kindest thing we could do was to let him die.
‘I was asked questions that no parent should ever be asked, such as letting his organs be harvested. We agreed that this should be done and arrangements were being made for transplantation donation.
‘We agreed that this should be delayed for a week so that family and friends could say their goodbyes to James. The stress of this was enormous.’
But he said just before James’s life support was due to be switched off, his son miraculously regained consciousness.
‘Initially he was only able to give eye contact and was unable to move or speak,’ Mr Howard-Jones added.
‘Slowly James’s condition improved to a point where he could be moved to a rehabilitation centre. However he was to return to hospital on several occasions due to a number of seizures. We didn’t know if he would survive or not.
‘At present he needs help in getting out of bed to just go to the toilet. He can use a wheelchair, which he can only use for a number of hours each day due to his fatigue.
Tears were shed as James’s dad gave an emotional victim impact statement to Gloucester Crown Court (Picture: PA)
‘We are under no illusion James’s brain damage is long-term and will require a level of caring for the rest of his life.’
He added his son’s mobility is very limited but is using parallel bars to help him start walking again.
‘All in all, the future for my son is looking pretty bleak,’ Mr Howard-Jones concluded.
Prosecutor Jack Berry told of how James suffered the life-changing injury after watching the Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte fight in a bar, then went to the Topworld club with his girlfriend Amelia Boskett Williams and a friend, Tom Downs.
As they left the venue at around 1am they became involved in a heated row with Davies, of Devonshire Street in Lansdown, and some of his friends which was broken up by security staff.
But five minutes later Davies and James crossed paths again in Regent Street, where the single punch was delivered.
James was previously a fit and healthy young athlete capable of competing in a 100km race.
Davies was arrested on May 8 last year and police found messages and online searches where he tried to determine what level of trouble he was in.
About the single punch campaign
Many UK police forces have become involved in the ‘One Punch Can Kill’ campaign to raise awareness of the devastating impact a single strike can cause regardless of intent.
Several people a year die as a result of single punches, which can cause a victim to fall unconscious with relatively little force if they land on vulnerable parts of the head.
A new dad who was celebrating his first night out since the birth of his daughter was killed by a single punch after getting into a row in a pub last year.
Nick Murphy, defending, said: ‘The decision made by my client to punch Mr Howard-Jones has had a profound effect on him. He wishes through me to apologise for his actions that evening inasmuch as it that is worth anything.
‘He understands that nothing said on his behalf will undo the damage which he has caused and the impact his single punch has had on his victim.’
He added: ‘Davies’s actions were completely out of character and he now has to live with the consequences. He himself had a difficult upbringing and to his credit he has not offended until now.’
Judge Picton told Davies: ‘You delivered a hard punch that was wholly unnecessary. Nothing that had happened earlier, or was happening at the moment you struck your victim, justifies or even explains what for you was a wholly out-of-character reaction to an inconsequential exchange of words in the street.
‘The punch you delivered sent James flying backwards and to the ground. The blow he received to the back of his head as a consequence very nearly ended his life.
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‘The decision had been made to switch off the life support system just prior to him regaining consciousness. But the life he has now has is but a shadow of what it once was – both mentally and physically.
‘Whilst I accept that you are genuinely remorseful, the messages you sent to your friends in the immediate aftermath of this crime do you no credit at all and I consider those to be an aggravating factor in this case.’
He decided to send Davies to prison instead of giving him a suspended sentence, saying it ‘doesn’t begin to properly reflect the terrible harm’ but that he was ‘constrained by the maximum penalty guidelines’.
The judge concluded: ‘I would like to express my personal sympathy to James and his family and those who care for him. They all now have a terrible and lifelong burden to bear.
‘What happened in this case should be a lesson for others about the terrible consequences that can result from the use of violence, which is sadly seen all too frequently when young people are out trying to enjoy themselves at night.’
A fundraising page was set up to help James here.
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James Howard-Jones, 28, will need care for the rest of his life after the single-punch attack in a street.