Footballer’s death was ‘senseless, avoidable, devastating’, court told

A FOOTBALLER was punched to the floor and killed after agreeing one of his attackers was “fat and ginger”, a court heard.

Matlock Town FC midfielder Jordan Sinnott, pictured, died in hospital after suffering a fractured skull and brain damage in an assault in Retford at about 2am on January 25.

Mr Sinnott had previously played for Huddersfield Town and grew up in Menston, near Leeds.

Nottingham Crown Court heard how one of the 25-yearold’s alleged attackers, Kai Denovan, “flew immediately into a rage” after the footballer joined in with what he believed to be the defendant’s “self-deprecating humour”.

Jurors heard Denovan, 22, “followed

rapidly behind” Mr Sinnott and his two friends Ben Bossons and Adam Towlson into The Vine pub, before telling him he was a “good-looking lad” and would have no trouble “pulling girls” – unlike him, who was “fat and ginger”.

“Yes I can see that,” Mr Sinnott replied, which the prosecution argued provoked the defendant’s alleged behaviour. Denovan’s codefendant Cameron Matthews pleaded guilty to manslaughter at an earlier hearing – admitting he was the one who administered the fatal punch.

Sean Nicholson, 22, of Beechways, Retford, admitted affray in connection with the incident. Matthews, of Denman Close, Retford, hit Mr Sinnott “two or three times” after the violence spilled out into the street outside the pub.

The court heard the 21-yearold was “taking over” from Denovan who was “plainly hell-bent on trouble” and who had allegedly punched Mr Sinnott twice in the face while inside The Vine.

Prosecutor Michael Auty QC told the court Mr Sinnott was willing to apologise for any offence caused – but described Denovan, Matthews and Nicholson as a “pack hunting down and exacting retribution”.

Opening the case against Denovan, prosecutor Mr Auty said: “As deaths go, it was about as senseless, avoidable and devastating as perhaps it was possible to be,” adding Denovan’s comment had been “a deliberate honey trap”.

Denovan, of Collins Walk, Retford, denies manslaughter, affray and common assault.

The trial continues.