Tragic Danny Humble's devastated partner and parents have spoken of their agony as his killers were locked up.
Five teenagers set upon the 35-year-old dad in a shocking gang attack near an underpass in Cramlington, Northumberland, last May, when jibes about him looking like Ant and Dec escalated into violence. He was punched, kicked and stamped to death in front his partner, Adele Stubbs, as she screamed for them to stop.
Alistair Dickson was found guilty of murdering Danny while Owen Soones, Ethan Scott, Kyros Robinson and Bailey Wilson were convicted of manslaughter. Dickson was told he must serve at least 12 years behind bars while the others were send to young offender institutions for six-and-a-half years.
Read more: Five teenagers locked up for killing much-loved dad in Cramlington after Ant and Dec banter
Before they were locked up, those closest to Danny outlined the traumatic impact his death has had on them. Danny's parents bravely went into the witness box at Newcastle Crown Court to face those who took his life while a victim impact statement from Adele was also read. She said: “I had known Danny for 18 months before the night he was so viciously beaten to death and we had planned a future together.
“Witnessing him being killed in such horrific and terrifying circumstances traumatised my recollection of the incident. The trauma will remain with me for the rest of my life. My ability to grieve for the loss of Danny has been clouded by trauma. I’ve not had a proper night’s sleep since it happened.
“Every day has been sheer hell for me. For the first six months I continually asked myself if there was more we could’ve done to avoid it happening. Now I’m resigned to the fact we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing we could’ve done or said would’ve stopped those boys attacking Danny that night.
“We had plans which have been cruelly snatched away from us. We planned to try for a baby later this year and were looking forward to getting married.”
Adele said she was off work for ten months and has found it impossible to return to her job as a critical care nurse due to the fact it brought back memories of what happened to Danny. She is now in a non critical care role.
She added: “Life without Danny will never be the same. I miss him so much it hurts every single day. He was so cruelly snatched away from me and his family by the unnecessary actions of those who killed him. I simply can’t imagine or resolve myself to a life without Danny.”
Danny’s dad, Vaughn Humble, went into the witness box to read his victim impact statement. He said: “We are a family incomplete.”
He told the court that Danny was “snatched away from us in the most violent, dreadful circumstances from which we can never ever recover", and added: “There is a void in our lives.
“Our family are reluctant to laugh and enjoy life and are apprehensive of the pity we see from other people. Danny was loved by so many. He was caring, loving and compassionate.
“Above all he was loved and adored by his heartbroken children, an eight-year-old boy and six-year-old girl. The catastrophic impact caused by the loss of their daddy will stay with them and have a real bearing forever more.
“We will pick up the mantle and continue to teach them the values Danny thought were important in life. We will impress on them to be kind and loving and treat others with dignity and respect.
“We will never see again his love of life and his dazzling six million dollar smile. What we do see are the dreadful images and sounds of Danny being attacked and, when defenceless, being punched, kicked and stamped to death.”
Mr Humble said of the killers: “Their cowardly, evasive actions have caused an unbearable event to be magnified a million times and will haunt us for the rest of our lives.”
Danny’s mum, Deborah Humble, said he was a “devoted dad” and spoke of his “beloved Newcastle United”. She added: “On May 29 my life turned black. Danny’s death has destroyed us all in different ways.
“He was my first boy, my son, my friend, a piece of my heart.” Mrs Humble added: “Life has changed since the trial and verdict, it’s become a lot harder.
“I was thrown into a nightmare I was unable to get out of. Danny was a one-off. He could twist me round his little finger with that smile and a joke.
“My heart breaks for Danny now. The futility and brutality which (his children) will eventually learn about is too hard to bear. This has literally broken me.”
Dickson, 18, of Hawkins Way, Blyth, was detained at his majesty’s pleasure, the equivalent of a life sentence for someone of his age, and must serve a minimum sentence of 12 years. Robinson, 18, of Woodside Avenue, Seaton Delaval, Soones, 18, of Newsham Road, Blyth, Scott, 18, of Chester Grove, Blyth, and Wilson, 19, of Mitford Avenue, Blyth, were each sent to young offenders institutions for six years and six months, of which they must serve two-thirds in custody.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanne Brooks, of Northumbria Police, said: “This is an extremely tragic case which has seen two children left without a father and a family devastated. Our thoughts very much remain with Danny’s loved ones and we will continue to support them in any way we can.
“I would like to thank them for their patience and commend them for the dignity they have shown during the investigation and throughout the court proceedings.
“This has been a complex investigation which relied on the support of the community and witnesses who came forward – and I would again like to thank everyone for their assistance.”
“So many lives have been destroyed by what happened that night. Those responsible have not only caused pain and suffering to Danny’s family but also for their own loved ones.
“This case clearly shows that no one wins where violence is concerned and I want to send a clear message to anyone who believes that such actions are acceptable – the consequences are devastating and can rip lives apart."
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