Jordan Sinnott's mum tells killers they ‘don’t deserve to live’ after footballer died in Sheffield hospital

Jordan, a Matlock Town FC midfielder, died after being punched on a night out.

The 25-year-old knocked to the floor in the attack in Retford in the early hours of Saturday, January 25 and suffered a fractured skull and brain damage.

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Kai Denovan, aged 22, of Collins Walk, Retford, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, affray and common assault but was found guilty of all three counts last week following a trial.

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Cameron Matthews, 21, of Denman Close, Retford, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a hearing on July 6 after CCTV footage showed him striking the professional footballer.

Sean Nicholson, 22, of Beechways, Retford, pleaded guilty to affray at a hearing on March 2.

Jordan was out with two friends on the night of the attack and first came across Matthews, Denovan and Nicholson inside a pub in Churchgate, Retford.

There was a disagreement before Denovan punched Jordan twice.

The two groups then went their separate ways, with Jordan and his friends leaving the pub and heading towards Retford’s Market Place.

Denovan and Matthews also left the pub and walked towards the Market Place, with Nicholson following behind. Once Matthews and Denovan caught up with Jordan, Denovan again punched him before Matthews went on to punch him more than once, knocking him to the floor and causing fatal injuries.

Jordan died in hospital later that day surrounded by his family.

Matthews was jailed for eight years and three months, Denovan was locked up for 11 years and Nicholson was put behind bars for 14 months.

Just before the men were sentenced, the victim's mother Mel Tait paid emotional tribute to her ‘inspirational’ son in a victim impact statement.

She said: “You don't deserve to have a life I will never forgive you.”

She said her son, whom she called ‘Jord’, had spoken of marrying his partner Kelly Bossons, and excitedly told his mother how had been due to sign for a new football club within days.

Praising her ‘talented, caring, bright and inspirational’ son, she spoke of their last conversation on the fateful night.

She said: “Jord called me to tell me how excited he was, he was signing for a new football club on Wednesday.”

“I told him I loved him, and that I would see him soon, and to enjoy his night,” she added.

“I had nothing to worry about because my life was perfect.

“This was the last time I would hear my son's voice again and this is when my life was changed forever.

“This is when you caused so much devastation to my family and you took everything away from me in a selfish, unprovoked attack.

“He had a life, a family, a home, a fiancee and was making plans for the future.

“You took away everything away from us, including the most precious thing - life - Jord's life.”

She would ‘never forget’ the banging on her door at 3am, bringing the news her son was seriously injured.

The next time she would see her ‘beautiful boy’, he was in an induced coma, unresponsive and on a ventilator, on an emergency hospital ward, covered in blood, she told the court.

She said: "This is when my heart broke into a thousand pieces and I prayed he wouldn't leave me, and to take me instead.

“Part of me died when they told me Jord would not be with us any more and he had no brain function.

“I washed his bloodied face, stroked his hair and whispered in his ear 'Please don't leave me'.

“As I slept with Jordan that last night, held his hand in mine, I realised this was the last time - I wouldn't see my son again.

“I told him how brave he was, how many lives he would save donating his organs and what a truly remarkable person he was.

“When the time came to take Jordan down to the operating theatre to donate his organs, I hugged him.

“This is the moment that stayed in my mind, kissing my son goodbye, watching my other son Tom, my husband, and Jordan's beloved Kelly also inconsolable.

“I wanted to scream at them to bring him back, not to take him away from me, and I convinced myself that Jordan would be on his own - and as a mum how could I leave him alone.

“The pain was, and still is, unimaginable.

“Your selfish actions that night have ripped me apart.

“I lost my son forever because you picked on and bullied Jordan for no reason

“Your ego allowed you to intimidate and hurt him, you followed him and attacked him, killing him.

“Because of what you have done to Jordan I constantly have nightmares where you are constantly attacking Jordan in my dreams.”

She added: “I ask myself do you all even care?

“I cannot work a job I have loved doing and I have tried hard to be a detective constable in the homicide and investigations team and I also investigate serious organised crimes.

“Priding myself on helping this most vulnerable of people, children and adults.

“I do not know when I can go back and do my job and that saddens me."

She added she would never get to see him ‘light up a room’, ‘smile’ or hear his ‘infectious laugh’.

“It breaks my heart I won't see him get married to Kelly or become the dad that he so wanted to be, and the chance to live his life to the full.

“Because good things happened happen to good people - and he was a good person.

“For that you don't deserve to have a life.

“For that I will never, ever forgive you.”

Jordan’s partner discovered she was pregnant after his funeral.