Yorkshire footballer Jordan Sinnott died after joke over ginger hair

A professional footballer from Bradford was killed on a night out after sharing a joke over his alleged attacker's appearance.
Jordan SinnottJordan Sinnott
Jordan Sinnott

Jordan Sinnott, 25, died from a fractured skull after being assaulted in Retford, Nottinghamshire, on January 25.

The son of former Huddersfield Town captain Lee Sinnott, Jordan grew up in Menston, near Bradford, and played for Huddersfield Town's academy. He was offered a professional contract aged 18 and spent three years with the club before being released in 2015.

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He was playing for Matlock Town FC at the time of his death.

A man from Retford is currently on trial at Nottingham Crown Court over Jordan's death and two more have already admitted their involvement.

Today the court heard that Jordan was punched to the floor after a joke about one of his alleged attackers being 'fat and ginger' went wrong.

Kai Denovan, 22, is alleged to have 'flown immediately into a rage' after the footballer joined in with what he believed to be the defendant’s 'self-deprecating humour'.

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Denovan is alleged to have followed Jordan and his friends. Ben Bossons and Adam Towlson, into a pub called The Vine 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,” Jordan replied, which the prosecution argued provoked the defendant’s alleged behaviour.

Denovan’s co-defendant Cameron Matthews, 21, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at an earlier hearing - admitting he was the one who administered the fatal punch.

Sean Nicholson, 22, admitted affray in connection with the same incident, but Denovan denies manslaughter, affray and common assault.

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Matthews admitted he hit Jordan 'two or three times' after the violence spilled out into the street outside the pub.

The court heard Matthews was 'taking over' from Denovan who was 'plainly hell-bent on trouble' - and who had allegedly already punched Jordan twice in the face while inside The Vine.

Prosecutor Michael Auty QC told the court Jordan had been 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.

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“He died, in fact, as a direct consequence of blows struck by Cameron Matthews, not by Mr Denovan.

“However, you will all readily understand that those who knowingly assist or encourage are liable too, even where theirs was not the fatal blow – perhaps even where they personally struck no blow at all.

“If you set about someone with your fists, then it is obvious that you intend, at the very least, some physical harm.

“Whilst he did not know Jordan Sinnott, Kai Denovan followed rapidly behind him and made a comment to Jordan Sinnott that he was a ‘good looking lad’ and would have no difficulty ‘pulling girls’, unlike him who, he volunteered, was ‘fat and ginger’.

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“What the true purpose of the remark was, only Kai Denovan knows. It’s hard to imagine how anyone might sensibly have replied.”

Mr Auty described Denovan’s comment as a 'deliberate honey trap'.

He continued: “In the end, Jordan Sinnott chose to say words to the effect of, ‘Yes, I can see that,’ no doubt thinking he was simply joining in with what appeared to be self-deprecating humour.

“It’s hard to imagine there might ever have been an acceptable response, and Kai Denovan flew immediately into a rage, albeit contrived and entirely of his own making.”

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Mr Auty said after the initial confrontation, in which Denovan allegedly struck Jordan twice, the victim and his two friends left the pub to buy food.

He said: “Denovan, having contrived a situation inside, and then erupted into violence when there was no need whatsoever, continued to lead the charge.

“It is Denovan who is driving the exit from The Vine and deliberately pursuing Jordan Sinnott and his friends outside.

“He isn’t avoiding trouble - he’s desperately seeking it.

“Denovan wasn’t interested in apologies - he wanted retribution, his own warped and dangerous justice.

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“He, of course, had senselessly started it all in the first place, and had he the integrity and grace to admit it and behave as Jordan Sinnott did, everyone could have gone their own separate ways, no-one would have been hurt, much less killed, and events that evening would probably never have been mentioned again.”

The trial continues.