‘JUST WALK AWAY FROM TROUBLE’
Heartbroken mum of rugby player killed by one punch tells how her world has been left shattered
T HE heartbroken mother of a popular rugby player killed by a single punch has told others to “just walk away from trouble” as the first anniversary of his death nears.
Former Swansea and Aberavon RFC centre Jonathan Thomas was set to move to Australia with girlfriend Sidonie – the daughter of motorcycle legend Barry Sheene – when he was hit by Daniel Shepherd while out drinking with pals on November 1 last year.
Shepherd was cleared of manslaughter at Swansea Crown Court in May.
Jonathan, 34, was a “fun loving and popular person”, according to his mum.
“I don’t think we realised how loved he was and how many lives he touched until we lost him,” 59-yearold Julie Thomas said.
“He had just moved to London and moved in with his girlfriend Sidonie. He had just moved there six weeks before.”
The mother of two added: “You just have to keep going. We’ve had very dark, very dark times. I go to bed and think, ‘I’ve got through another day, how have I done that?’ I can’t believe I’ve got through a year.”
Losing a child is “the most heartbreaking thing that can happen to anyone,” she said.
“It seems like yesterday when two policemen came to the door to tell me there had been an incident.
“You just don’t expect two policemen to knock on your door and tell you your son is dead.
“I rang my friend and had to call my husband to tell him. I had to tell his brother Nicky because he was not in the house. It was pretty horrific.”
Time has not been a healer for the family.
“It’s become worse as the year has gone on,” Julie said.
“At first you’re in shock but then the reality sets in.
“The realisation I’ll never see or speak to Jonathan again is unthinkable.”
She has also described the emo- tional torment of the trial that followed Jonathan’s death.
“One of the things we tried to do was keep our dignity,” she said.
“There was a lot we could have said, and a lot we have not said, and I am not going to say anything now. There is no point.
“Other than the day we lost Jonathan those eight days reliving how he died have to be the worst days of our lives.”
She added: “We try to live our lives the best we can because that is what he would have wanted, but he has never left us, ever.
“I don’t know what I would say to him now. I think he knew how loved he was, but we just miss him so, so much.
“We lost him in such tragic and unnecessary circumstances.”
Julie and Jonathan’s father, Rob, will be spending the anniversary in Spain, where the family have an apartment. Nicky will be in Wales with friends.
“The boys spent a lot of time there and we have found it has given us a lot of comfort to go to Spain,” Julie said.
“It won’t be easy. Nothing is easy at all.
“The anniversary will be sad, but every day is sad.”
After his death Jonathan’s pals s set up a memorial fund, which has g given to charities including Wish U Upon a Star.
That was picked because they o offer support to recently bereaved p parents.
“The only stipulation I had was th that the money would go to local c charities, ones that Jonathan was involved with or ones that he would have approved of, which is what we’ve done,” Julie, from Mumbles, Swansea, said.
“We are coming to the anniversary of losing Jonathan on November 1. So last Saturday we had a dinner in the great hall at Swansea University.”
The final amount raised has not been totted up, but it could be as much as £20,000.
Rugby players including former Wales international Jonathan Thomas and current team member James Hook took part in a Q&A session.
“It was a very bitter-sweet evening for us,” Julie said. “Really we just wanted Jonathan to be here. I think he would be really proud of everything his friends have done.
“We put up some amazing photos of Jonathan and we played our family song which was quite upsetting. “But it keeps his profile up.” The family hope to keep Jonathan’s memory “going as long as we can”.
She thanked friends and family for their “most amazing support”.
And she had a message for other youngsters faced with trouble.
“Just walk away from trouble,” she said. “Just walk away.”