A 20-year-old man who caused the death of a Sheffield United fan with a one-punch attack has been jailed for seven years.
On Saturday 15 July 2023, 56-year-old Richard Wheeler headed out for what was to be a day of birthday celebrations with friends in Sheffield city centre, but the celebrations came to a sudden end when he was brutally attacked by 20-year-old Liam Jones.
Emergency services were called to Orchard Lane around 11.10pm following reports there had been an altercation and a man had been assaulted near to The Bessemer pub.
The victim, Richard Wheeler was taken to hospital but on 25 July he sadly died from the head injuries he sustained at the hands of Jones.
Detective Inspector Adam Watkinson, who led the investigation, said: “This violent and wicked attack has devastated the lives of Richard’s loved ones, and although this sentence will never make up for the loss they are suffering, I hope that it offers some level of justice for them knowing that Jones is now behind bars.”
“We will continue to pursue those individuals who choose to use violence on the streets of South Yorkshire and bring them to justice and keep our communities safe.”
The court heard how Jones approached his victim and attacked him with one punch to the head that knocked him unconscious and left him with traumatic brain injury requiring urgent surgery.
The full attack was captured on camera, Jones was quickly identified and arrested just three minutes’ walk from the scene.
The family of Richard Wheeler have shared a statement following the sentencing:
“Please be respectful for the grieving family and friends of Rich who was a deeply loved and very liked man.
“He went out for a night out and never came home, no one should lose a loved one in this way. His spirit will always be with us”.
At a hearing at Sheffield Crown Court on 8 November, Jones pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter, two counts of Grievous Bodily Harm, one count of Actual Bodily Harm, one count of Possession of an Offence Weapon, and one of Affray.
Jones received a 7 year prison sentence and then must serve an additional three years on license after that.
Edited by Alex Jones