Every day Jacob Dunne walks around Old Market Square to get the bus to work. 11 years ago, in front of what was once Yates’ Wine Lodge and is now Slug and Lettuce, he had approached a man whose name was James Hodgkinson and delivered a punch that killed the 28-year old – a complete stranger who he had not seen before.
This savage act ended the life of a innocent man, but it also altered the life of Mr Dunne forever. The 19-year-old was arrested at Bridewell Police Station after he was informed that his victim had passed away within nine days of the tragic evening out on July. What followed was a thirty-month prison sentence for manslaughter . It was an unjustified desire to take revenge against a friend who was’snitched’ at him. This eventually led to a degree, an unplanned relationship with James his dad and mum as well as writing a book about his story and what transpired.
Mr. Dunne is originating from The Meadows but now living in Mapperley and was struggling with his childhood before the events that took place on that night took place – he’d been a victim of gang culture based on drugs He was drinking heavily and taking drugs , as well as fighting for pleasure.
In his newest book ‘Right from Wrong The Story of Guilt and Redemption In it, he relates the tale of how it wasn’t prison that changed his character and set him on an adventure of redemption, rather, it was an intimate conversation with the grieving parents of the victim’s.
However, even a year after, does he be thinking about the night he was sleeping in?
“It remains quite prevalent,” he says. “It’s in my head frequently. I’ve always believed that such a thing will never disappear – it’s never going to be something which I could just place into a bin that is forgotten about forever , never to resurface.
“But I am also aware that sometimes, by trying to make myself harder does nothing to help. Helping other people to make a change that is important to them, does. It might not be healthy for people to like me, speak about things like this they’ve done over the last 10 years. This is the reason I’m committed to moving the conversation forward.”
Joan Scourfield and David Hodgkinson wrote to David Hodgkinson as well as Joan Scourfield to Dunne and, in the end, began a relationship with the latter. David Hodgkinson was in the company of his child at the time of the incident after watching an exhibition match at Trent Bridge throughout the day He even chased at Mr Dunne who fled in a state of panic after striking him with the punch.
James Parents’s encouragement to their son’s killer to put himself back in school and to make something out of his life. When he came to them to say they were thinking about writing a book, the family was there at each step of the way.
Mr Dunne stated to Nottinghamshire Live: “It was always essential that I keep my readers informed when I first began contemplating writing the book . I sought their consent as well as their input when the book was at the initial draft stage. I didn’t want it to harm the bond we’d spent so long establishing.
“I realize that it’s an extremely amazing situation to be in, for us to have this connection that we have. However, after having known for as long as I do now, it’s not as amazing like it does to other people. They’ve been instrumental in giving me the first incentive to desire living my life the how I live it currently.
“It was crucial for them at first that I addressed their questions regarding the events of the night before, but they also wanted to know something from the experience. They required me to make positive adjustments. This helped me feel more confident in myself, because it helped me realize that I had the potential to improve myself.”
In the book, Dunne talks about his childhood at the Meadows and how he was exposed criminality and drugs at an early age. After having dropped out of school without GCSEs He stumbled into with the wrong crowd , which caused him to end up in prison. He explained to Nottinghamshire Live how important he believes education is in the areas outside of Nottingham like the Meadows.
He stated: “I would say the major thing that I notice is youngsters, particularly those from those who live in the Meadows as well as other estates generally have negative perceptions regarding education and whether it’s useful and could be beneficial to people who live there. That’s what drives people to extremes I believe and in all forms – an inability to believe in the value of education as a tool to increase social mobility.
“Some children are deficient of faith and of ambition, along with the lack of belief. It’s a fact that we need to be able to promote education in the working class communities. I did not do well in school and was diagnosed with ADHD dyslexia, dyslexia and placed on the autism spectrum which meant that I wasn’t sure that I would perform well.
“Re-entering school, I was able to earn A*s, as well as an A-grade in the field of criminology. We must encourage youngsters to speak up and be able solicit help whenever they require it.”
He has now raised his two kids and has put his time and energy to trying to share his story so that other people don’t repeat the mistakes he made.
“I only threw one strike,” he said. “There are many people who punch during nightclubs. I’m asking them to think about how are we communicating our feelings? Do we have to seek assistance?”
Mr. Dunne is examining the possibility of putting a “debating circle’ in that area within the Old Market Square, turning an area that is a source of reliving the worst memories into one that embodies an enlightened and healthy way of settling disagreements. He’s developing a number of projects that focus on restorative justice and talk to those who have suffered the consequences of crimes over the decades.
