Danny Humble: Cramlington man 'murdered after Ant and Dec comment'

A man was murdered by seven teenagers after they joked that he looked like one of TV stars Ant and Dec, a court has heard.

Danny Humble, 35, from Cramlington, Northumberland, suffered a "catastrophic" head injury in May 2021 as he returned home from a night out.

The group, then aged 16 to 18, surrounded him near an underpass and repeatedly kicked him on the floor, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

All seven deny murder.

Mr Humble and his partner, Adele Stubbs, had enjoyed a meal and drinks after lockdown restrictions were eased and she later recalled they had drunk "a canny skinful".

The teenagers had also been out drinking in local pubs.

Jacob Hallam QC, prosecuting, said a witness told police he heard some of the group and Mr Humble "just having a little bit of crack on".

The witness recalled the group told Mr Humble "he looked like one of television's Ant and Dec" and how the 35-year-old replied words to the effect: "Aye, good one, lads."

One of the group said: "Can I have your autograph? You're my inspiration," the witness added.

The court was told another defendant said: "Yeah, you do look like him."

Soon after, Ms Stubbs recalled her partner said something like "what did you say?" and people moved towards him before he was hit with an uppercut.

Jurors heard the fatal attack took 15 seconds and the witness told police "they didn't miss a part of his body" as they were "kicking him in".

Mr Hallam said Mr Humble may have hit one of the 17-year-olds on the head before the youths surrounded him.

Ms Stubbs tried to perform first aid and dialled 999, trying "desperately but fruitlessly" to save her partner, the court heard.

Five defendants, Alistair Dickson, Bailey Wilson, Ethan Scott and Izaak Little, all from Blyth, and Kyros Robinson, from Seaton Delaval, are now all aged 18.

Two other defendants, who are 17, cannot be named because of their ages.

The trial continues.

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