Killers of former FC Halifax Town footballer Jordan Sinnott given more than 20 years in prison

The killers of former FC Halifax Town footballer Jordan Sinnott have been sentenced to a total of more than 20 years in prison.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Kai Denovan, 22, was found guilty of manslaughter, affray and common assault at a trial at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Cameron Matthews, 21, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at an earlier hearing and was handed a sentence of eight years and three months.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Sean Nicholson, 22, also admitted to a charge of affray and was sentenced to 14 months, of which he will serve half.

FC Halifax Town v Harrogate Town. Jordan SinnottFC Halifax Town v Harrogate Town. Jordan Sinnott
FC Halifax Town v Harrogate Town. Jordan Sinnott

Mr Sinnott, 25, died in hospital after being punched a number of times and knocked to the floor in a brutal assault in Retford in the early hours of Saturday 25 January.

Nottinghamshire Police has released CCTV footage showing the final moments before Mr Sinnott was fatally attacked, which shows him and two friends walking to Retford Market Place, followed by the two men convicted of his manslaughter and another man convicted of affray in connection with the incident.

Kai Denovan, of Collins Walk, Retford, pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, affray and common assault but was found guilty on all three counts on 28 July following a trial at Nottingham Crown Court.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Cameron Matthews, of Denman Close in Retford, pleaded guilty to manslaughter at a hearing on 6 July after CCTV showed him striking the Matlock Town player.

Kai Denovan and Cameron Matthews. Photo: Nottinghamshire PoliceKai Denovan and Cameron Matthews. Photo: Nottinghamshire Police
Kai Denovan and Cameron Matthews. Photo: Nottinghamshire Police

Sean Nicholson, of Beechways, Retford, pleaded guilty to affray following Mr Sinnott’s death at a hearing on 2 March.

Mr Sinnott was out with two friends on the night of the tragic incident - when he first came across Cameron Matthews, Kai Denovan and Sean Nicholson inside a pub in Churchgate, Retford.

There was a disagreement before Denovan punched Mr Sinnott twice. The two groups then went their separate ways, with Mr Sinnott and his friends leaving the pub and heading towards Retford’s Market Place.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Denovan and Matthews also left the pub and walked towards the Market Place, with Nicholson following behind. Once Matthews and Denovan caught up with Mr Sinnott, Denovan again punched Mr Sinnott before Matthews went on to punch him more than once, knocking him to the floor and causing fatal injuries.

Sean Nicholson. Photo: Nottinghamshire PoliceSean Nicholson. Photo: Nottinghamshire Police
Sean Nicholson. Photo: Nottinghamshire Police

Police were called to the scene as ambulance crews were attempting to treat Mr Sinnott, a footballer with Matlock Town Football Club, after he was found unconscious following an incident at around 2am.

Mr Sinnott died in hospital just before 6pm on Saturday 25 January, surrounded by his family.