One-punch victim's mum 'walk away from fight' plea

The mother of a teenager who died from a single punch on a night out is urging festive revellers to "walk away" from fights.

Kristian Thompson died in 2011, months after being punched in the head in Consett on his 19th birthday.

His mum, Maxine Thompson-Curl has launched the annual Punched Out Cold campaign, urging people out celebrating to "stop, think and walk away".

She set up the charity One Punch UK after her son's death and is calling on pubs and bars to keep an eye on those drinking too much.

She said the hard-hitting poster of the campaign had an image of a covered body in a morgue to highlight that such attacks could be fatal.

"People have got to stop and think, and you've got to walk away and think responsibly about your actions," she said.

"That hand on the end of your arm is your responsibility - don't lift your arms, because it could be the punch that kills."

She said her son hit the ground after he was punched, suffering a fractured skull and "catastrophic brain injury".

Backed by Durham Police, the force's Insp Paul Mawson said the campaign was not about spoiling fun at Christmas.

"It's about people taking responsibility, if they find themselves in a situation where they feel they may lash out then walk away," he said.

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].