A mother whose son was killed by a single punch has called for harsher jail sentences after describing months-long terms as "disgusting".

Kristian Thompson died in 2011 after being assaulted in a nightclub. The man who punched Kristian was released from prison after serving nine months.

His mum Maxine Thompson Curl, who set up the One Punch UK charity in his memory, has for a decade been campaigning for sentencing reform and raising awareness that one punch can kill.

Maxine's comments follow the sentencing of Kenneth Jones who was jailed for 27 months after his punch left dad-of-two Jamie Selvey in a permanent coma since last summer.

The 41-year-old suffered a catastrophic brain injury after he was punched outside The Bell Hotel in Newtown on June 9.

Jones, aged 21, and from Knighton, was told by the judge that his punch effectively ended Mr Selvey's life after the court was told that he is unlikely to wake up.

County Times:

Maxine has reached out to Mr Selvey's family offering her love and support, wishing them "to stay strong".

"It is horrendous for families," she said. "It's a living nightmare that you're going through.

"Every story has its similarities but it’s absolutely atrocious. It’s a no win-win situation for either victim or the perpetrator and their families.

"It just needs to stop. One punch can kill. They don’t know the devastation they could cause.

"My passion is to keep Kristian’s story alive and make a difference, so no other family has to go through what we’ve been through. It’s a living nightmare."

Maxine has been working for sentencing reform with MP Deheena Davidson whose dad was killed with a single punch when she was just 13. The proposed changes needs to be seen by the Justice Minister before it's considered by Parliament.


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"They measure [one punch assaults] as a low-level which is ridiculous," Maxine said.

"What we’ve asked is for it to stand out on its own and it’s going to be called manslaughter one punch.

"We want to make it about justice and that it’s a deterrent because you’d get locked up for seven years instead of nine months.

"Hundreds of people have gone through what I’ve been through. There’s not a lot of support about for not only the victim but for their families too."