The 'moment of madness' that ended in complete tragedy

Smiling, horse-mad Jake Rainton was pictured in his element at the Yorkshire Show. But just hours later his life would be ended by a single punch.

The image is a heartbreaking reminder to his mother of her only son and she revealed she still changes his bed, kidding herself that he will come home.

Jake was just 23 when he was fatally hit in a completely unprovoked attack by stranger. Ryan Patient, 25, of Rotherham, was convicted of his manslaughter and jailed for ten years last month.

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Jake was conveyed to his funeral in a horse and carriage and laid to rest with flowers in the shape of his favourite pony. His mother, Dawn McGurty, 52, said: “Jake was a lovely boy, kind and caring and in no way aggressive. He was standing in the street, not even looking at his attacker, when he was floored with a single punch.

“I have a photo of him, taken on the day of the attack, where he was beaming and he was so happy. It breaks my heart to look at it now. Since he died, I have kept his bedroom exactly the same. There is a takeaway pizza box and a bottle of pop. His clothes are all there. I change the bed, every week, just as I always did, kidding myself that one day he might come home. I just cannot bear to accept that he has gone.

“My agony is unbearable and I only hope Jake’s legacy can be to educate others – please stop and think before you throw a punch.”

Jake was the younger of Dawn’s two children and was affectionate and loving from an early age. Dawn said: “He was such a lovely, cute kid. When he went on sleepovers to his mate’s, he’d pretend he was ill so he could come home in the middle of the night. He was happiest at home, with his family.”

Jake