Plea to stop 'one-punch' deaths

Craig Hargreaves' mother said he was full of life

A campaign to stop "one-punch" assaults that have killed 16 people in West Yorkshire has been started by police and the family of one victim.

Craig Hargreaves, 19, died a week after suffering head injuries while trying to break up a fight outside a nightclub in Castleford in January 2008.

The teenager is one of 16 people who have been killed as a result of one-punch attacks in the county since 2006.

His mother urged young people to think of the consequences of their actions.

A 23-year-old man who pleaded guilty to Mr Hargreaves' manslaughter was jailed for 12 months in August.

Sandra Hargreaves, who lives in Normanton, said her son was "wonderful, loving, caring and full of life".

She said: "When your child goes for a night out you don't expect him not to come home and that that was the last time you would see him and hear his voice.

"It's totally devastating and heartbreaking and I would not wish what we as a family have been through on anyone.

"If by raising awareness of how much devastation can be caused by one punch, [we] can save another family going through what we have, then the campaign has been worthwhile."

'Shatter lives'

She added: "I just wish that people would know their limits and go home when they have had enough."

West Yorkshire Police said the number of people dying from one-punch attacks was increasing.

It said the majority of victims and their attackers were men aged between 18 and 35.

Det Ch Supt Max McLean, head of the county's homicide and major inquiry team, said: "It is important to raise awareness of how just one punch can shatter lives.

"It can kill and it can cause life-changing injuries often from a split second decision.

"Often fuelled by alcohol and adrenaline, fights can start and all it takes is one punch before someone falls to the ground, hits their head on a kerb and they may never recover from the injuries caused.

"Think before you wade in with your fists, take a deep breath and consider living with the consequences of killing someone, serving a lengthy prison sentence and a criminal record."