Teen Jailed For Killing Medic

4 November 2011, 16:45 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

A 19-year-old from Nottingham has been jailed for 30 months after he killed a trainee paramedic with a single punch in an unprovoked street attack.

Jacob Dunne hit 28-year-old James Hodgkinson in the face, causing him to fall to the floor and hit his head on the ground.

He was taken to hospital but died nine days after the attack.

At a preliminary hearing at Nottingham Crown Court in September, Dunne, of Whickham Court, The Meadows, Nottingham, admitted the manslaughter of Mr Hodgkinson, who suffered serious head injuries outside Yates's Wine Lodge in the city's Old Market Square on July 30.

Detective Inspector Rob McKinnell, who led the inquiry, said: “James had met up with his friends and family in Nottingham to enjoy a day watching the cricket at Trent Bridge.

“They had left the ground on the evening of Saturday 30 July venturing into the city, but just hours later James was fighting for his life in hospital.

“A punch from Dunne, with no consideration for the consequences, caused James to fall to the floor sustaining serious head injuries.

"While Dunne has admitted his involvement and has been jailed, James' family and girlfriend face a lifetime without their loved one.

“James was a young man whose life was abruptly ended by this unprovoked attack.

“This is yet another example of the tragic consequences that can arise from someone acting violently. James' death was completely pointless and wholly avoidable.”

A statement released by Mr Hodgkinson’s family said: “We are devastated at the loss of James – a loving, caring son and brother.

“This senseless act of violence resulted in the death of a person who was dedicating their life to helping others in their role as a paramedic.
 
“Any length of sentence will not bring James back or relieve the suffering but acts like this can not be allowed to continue and a clear message has to be sent to others that if you commit this type of crime you will go to prison.

“It must be remembered that a fist can be just as deadly as a knife or gun.”

Sentencing him to 30 months in a young offenders' institute today Mr Justice Flaux told Dunne: ``This case is yet another example of mindless and gratuitous violence of the streets of the city, which causes the public concern.

``Innocent and law-abiding men like Mr Hodgkinson should be entitled to go out and enjoy themselves without being attacked like this.''