Sheffield duo jailed after fatal golf club attack leaves man dead
Violent clash turns deadly in Longley Hall
Sean Holt, 45, and Richard Ferrie, 46, both from Sheffield, were sentenced at Doncaster Crown Court on Tuesday 27 July. Originally charged with murder, their charges were reduced during the trial. Holt was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to manslaughter. Ferrie received 18 months for affray.
Golf clubs used in brutal street assault
The pair attacked Paul Crossley and his friend Steven Newton on Longley Hall Road on the evening of 15 May 2020. The violence erupted after an earlier dispute that Mr Crossley and Mr Newton tried to walk away from. Undeterred, Holt and Ferrie armed themselves with golf clubs and tracked them down around 9.45 pm.
Mr Crossley tried to calm the situation but Holt punched him, knocking him to the ground. Ferrie then attacked Mr Newton with a club and punched him while he lay on the floor.
Fatal injuries lead to man’s death days later
The attackers fled the scene, with Ferrie seen discarding a dark top along the way. Police later found the clothing in a bin, matching blood and DNA from the crime scene.
Mr Crossley suffered a fractured skull, fractured eye socket, broken jaw, and severe damage to his larynx. Despite ambulance efforts, he fell into a coma and died on 19 May.
“One of the blows caused Mr Crossley to fall backward and hit his head on the road,” said Detective Chief Inspector James Axe. “He tragically later died from un-survivable brain damage.”
Police vow to crack down on street violence
DCI Axe added: “This sentence stands as a warning to those who think violence is acceptable on our streets. A man has lost his life over a single punch. We will continue working to prevent incidents like this which show how fragile life can be.”
The Crossley family has asked for privacy to grieve and will not be making any further statements.
