One punch – that’s all it took to destroy my boy’s life

These are the words of a heartbroken mother whose son was the victim of a one-punch attack in Scarborough. The victim’s devastated dad drove more than 9,000 miles while visiting his son every day in hospital as medics worked tirelessly to save his life following a severe head injury. Jamie Kelly lost half of his skull while neurosurgeons were treating a bleed on his brain at Hull Royal Infirmary. The 41-year-old from Scarborough is showing slow yet encouraging signs of improvement, but the severity of his injuries means he is likely to require specialist care for the rest of his days. The man responsible for Jamie’s condition is Daniel George Johnson, aged 32, of Cromwell Terrace, Scarborough. At precisely 1.28pm on Wednesday 16 September last year, Johnson punched Jamie in the head while they were near a pedestrian crossing on Ramshill Road. One punch. Then utter devastation for Jamie, his mum Brenda, dad Michael, sister Michelle and all their family and friends. Johnson was arrested nearby and was later charged with Section 18 wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. However, the court accepted a guilty plea to the lesser charge of Section 20 grievous bodily harm. Johnson was sentenced to two years and five months’ imprisonment at York Crown Court today, Monday 7 March 2022. Detective Constable Peter Day, of Scarborough and Ryedale CID, led the investigation into the assault and has provided support to Jamie’s parents throughout this ordeal. He said: “This has been a truly horrendous experience for Jamie and especially for his parents who thought they were going to lose their son. “No outcome at court will undo the devastation that Johnson caused with one punch. “The victim personal statements of Jamie’s parents were read out in court during the sentencing. Brenda and Michael have given their blessing for us to publish the statements on the force website and on social media to show the full catastrophic impact this one-punch attack has had. “I urge people to read them and make sure younger members of the family learn from this case.”