'The best man who walked the earth': Utter heartbreak in court for Carl James' family

Carl James' heartbroken family has spoken out, after the man who fatally attacked him was jailed.

On Friday morning, as Curtis Tudor, 26, was led away to begin his six-year sentence for the manslaughter, the family said: "The sentence passed today is no justice for Carl or his family as in our eyes - no sentence will ever be enough and it won’t bring back our beloved Carl. We will never be the same again, we’re left completely heartbroken.”

Curtis Tudor headbutted Mr James in an unprovoked attack in the beer garden of The Jack and Jill pub, in Berwick Hills, Middlesbrough. As Mr James tried to get up, Tudor punched him in the face, on May 11.

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Mr James suffered a brain haemorrhage in the attack and he died three days later, in the town's James Cook University Hospital.

The James family statement went on to say: “Carl was a much-loved son, dad, partner, brother, grandad and friend to many. Carl adored all his family and had a heart of gold who would do anything for anyone. It is so hard to cope with how Carl’s life has been tragically taken away from us while simply going to the pub and enjoying a drink.

“As a family, we are left with heartache and grief. We will always struggle to come to terms with our loss and we’ll never understand why someone can do something so evil. We can’t believe it has been six months since Carl was cruelly taken away from us. Six whole months of missing Carl and feeling sad without him around."

Mr James's brother Anthony stood up in court to speak before Tudor, of Welburn Grove, Ormesby, was jailed, saying: "Carl was very loving and not afraid to show it. He always gave everyone a hug. He'd do anything for anyone. He was caring and had a heart of gold. He always got me up to dance at family parties. He always made everyone laugh and smile."

Mr James had completed an offshore survival course, so that he could work as a scaffolder offshore - "something he'll now never achieve," his brother Anthony said. Mr James had five sons, and Anthony broke down as he said that one of Carl's sons had described his dad as: "The best man who walked the earth."

The court heard that Mr James' parents "were so proud of how hard Carl worked to provide for his family. They will miss him going to their house after work and raiding cupboards for chocolate biscuits," Anthony said. "They are absolutely heartbroken."

£30,000 has been raised by the local community to pay for Carl James' funeral and to provide christmas presents for his sons.

Mr James' partner, Kayleigh Downing, said: "Our family is broken and nothing will ever be the same again. He provided us with unconditional love. Our home feels so quiet and empty without him. Frank (as he was also known) didn't deserve this. His death has left us with a void that will never be filled."

Carl was known as Frank, his brother Anthony told the Judge Laird, because he "used to dress up as Frankenstein when he was younger, for the float at the Pallister Park community centre."

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