Family attacks sentence for death-punch boxer

Robert Hurdley, 45, was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital after Daniel Gerrard, 30, unleashed the blow in the Don John pub in Maltby, Rotherham.

Mr Hurdley, a co-director of the Chesterfield branch of Specsavers opticians, had gone into the pub with a group from the rugby club in nearby Dinnington, where he coached the under-12s.

Sheffield Crown Court was told Gerrard, of Highfield Park, Maltby, had fought in two professional boxing bouts, and had won both. He handed himself in to police after the attack. Gerrard, who had been given a suspended jail sentence for common assault in February last year, admitted manslaughter and affray over the incident involving Mr Hurdley on October 14 last year.

The family of Mr Hurdley, a married father of three young children, who lived in Dinnington, issued a statement after yesterday’s hearing criticising the sentence.

It said: ”October 14 will remain the darkest day in the life of our family, Rob’s friends, work colleagues and his beloved Dinnington Rugby Club.

“This was the day that Rob Hurdley was taken away from us because of the aggression and violence of Daniel Gerrard. Our world is and will remain a poorer place without Rob.

“We are disappointed in the strongest terms with the leniency of his sentence and feel a review of the judicial system is required. However, we would like to thank South Yorkshire Police for all their hard work in relation to this case and for the support they have given us.”

Det Supt Lisa Ray, who led the inquiry, said: “This was an unprovoked and brutal attack on a
family man out drinking with friends. His death leaves his wife, young children and wider family and friends devastated, no sentence is enough to replace their loss.”