The father of a man killed as he was breaking up a fight, has described the attacker’s four year jail term as “a kick in the teeth”.
Jake Sweeney, 26, was out with friends in Caerphilly town on August 24 when he was punched in the head by Jason Grovell.
Mr Sweeney’s father and the wider community have expressed anger at Grovell’s sentence.
Mark Sweeney made a complaint to the Attorney General just hours after Grovell was sentenced for killing his son, described in court as a “peacemaker”.
Grovell will be eligible for parole in two years.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Attorney General to review the sentence for being “unduly lenient”.
On October 13, Cardiff Crown Court heard how Grovell, 24, shouted “boom” as he punched innocent Mr Sweeney to the ground.
Mr Sweeney, originally from Abertridwr, hit his head on the pavement, cracking his skull, and died at the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff four days later.
Prosecutor Michael Jones said: “Grovell threw a gratuitous, forceful, unexpected and cowardly punch.
“Mr Sweeney’s only involvement was to act as a peacemaker and he was of no threat.”
Grovell had been drinking and taking cocaine with friends while on a night out.
A fight broke out after closing time and Mr Sweeney tried to “defuse” the situation by coming between the two men.
As he was walking away Grovell struck him to the side of the head – jumping as he landed the “vicious punch”.
The attack happened on the taxi rank outside the Irish Tymes pub.
He was seen smiling and “bouncing like a boxer” before fleeing the scene.
The accounts office worker initially claimed he didn’t remember the attack but later admitted manslaughter.
Dozens of Mr Sweeney’s friends and family sat in the court’s crowded public gallery and a number of them said Grovell smirked after the sentence was read out.
Speaking to Caerphilly Observer, father Mark Sweeney said: “It’s a kick in the teeth when we were down, and he smirked at us because of it. This is not just my sentiment it’s the same as Jake’s mum. She’s extremely angry. All his friends, all his family are absolutely outraged. The whole community is outraged.
“In court we heard he was high on cocaine, we saw all the CCTV evidence. We saw that Jake wasn’t involved at all and Grovell was basically skirting around the group looking for someone to hit. Jake happened to be that person.
“We didn’t know that he glorified it. That he was bouncing around like a boxer afterwards and that he said ‘boom’.
“The judge described it as a cowardly act, so for him to just get four years, and possibly be out in two, is totally inadequate. I don’t think the punishment fits the crime.”
Mr Sweeney’s stepmother, Alison Sweeney, said friends and the community had joined together to support the family through seven traumatic weeks.
She said: “It’s like putting a knife in with the sentence – then having it twisted. He could be let out in two years.”
Mr Sweeney’s mum and dad held back tears to read out victim impact statements to the packed court.
Mum Nancy Mantle said her son had never been in trouble and would always try to defuse fights.
She said: “To anyone Jake was a gentle giant but to me he was my baby boy.
“I will never be able to cwtch him or hear his wonderful voice or see him smile. When he was in hospital I prayed they would take me and not him – but no one listened.
“The day he died part of me died with him.”
Mrs Sweeney said that for Mr Sweeney’s parents to read out victim statements in court took “unbelievable courage”.
She said: “Jake meant so much to his mum and dad, they loved him so dearly that if it was the last thing they could do for him they felt that’s what they had to do.
“They put themselves through all that to be told four years. It’s disgraceful.”
Mr Sweeney’s only son shares his birthday – another traumatic day for him to go through next month.
He said: “The past 24 hours have been awful. We were expecting justice and we didn’t get it. I don’t think four years is enough for what he did. We’ve got a life sentence. He’ll be able to see his son, watch him grow up. I’m not going to see my son again.
“People talk about closure, there’s no closure, never will be. We just want to see him get longer.
“The police were fantastic and they did everything they possibly could with the evidence, but it was not their decision in the end, it was down to the judge and we think it was a poor decision. How can it outrage so many people? The the only one smiling after it was Grovell.
“It’s just not justice.”
A spokeswoman for the Attorney General confirmed a number of complaints had been made to the office and that they are aware of the petition.
They will decide by November 10 whether to refer it to the Court of Appeal where three judges can uphold or increase the sentence.
Gwent Police Detective Chief Inspector Roger Fortey said: “This is a tragic case, and a stark reminder that it can take only one punch to kill a person and devastate so many lives. Our thoughts remain with Jake’s family and friends at this very difficult time.”
shouldnt need to wait untill next month before deciding on sending it to appeal,needs to be done asap.
Grovell is not an accounts office worker so get your facts right!! He was a delivery boy who delivered nuts and bolts to Nuaire on Western Industrial Estate in Caerphilly!!! He also bragged about what he did and all the shop floor of Nuaire will confirm that!! My husband works there!!!!
Outrageous sentence, even though the death wasn’t intentional. Jason sounds like a standard issue thug with no sense of remorse. He probably feels like he got away with it given the inadequate punishment.
The sentence is nothing more than an insult to his family, he should have been given at least 15 years. The Police and the CPS are not doing their jobs properly, the victims do not have a voice in court – their lives have been shattered and his children have had their father taken away from them forever yet the Police and the CPS do not care they treat the no good criminals better than their victims.
Outrageous sentence,this animal should have got 20 years minimum