Yahoo News Family's anguish as floored Hanley clubber spent two years in coma before dying
The devastated family of a city centre clubber have told how their loved-one was left in a coma for two years before losing his fight for life. Ben Grosvenor, from Burslem, had left Hanley Reflex with his brother and sister at 4am on November 28, 2021.
They had intended to grab a bite to eat before finding their pre-arranged lift home. But trouble broke out on Trinity Street, Ben's brother was attacked, and Ben was knocked unconscious by a different reveller.
It was Benjamin Wallbanks who delivered the fatal blow with a single punch. Ben was knocked unconscious and never recovered.
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Now his family have been in court today to see 41-year-old Wallbanks, of Opal Road, Fenton, handed a nine-year extended sentence for the manslaughter of their loved-one. Months earlier, Wallbanks had knocked out clubber David Regan outside Hanley Pink with a single punch.
In a tribute to 30-year-old Ben, his family said: “Our hearts are, and always will be, broken. Ben was our beloved son, brother, uncle, and nephew. He was the most kind, most caring and loving person you could ever meet. He would help anyone without question, he would make you laugh with his humour, he would make you smile easily, and he loved his family deeply.
“He truly was the most genuinely kind soul, and we are utterly devastated at his loss. He was one of life's good guys and he didn't deserve to have his life so cruelly taken away from him. Ben suffered for two long years in a coma before losing his life. He didn't deserve to suffer in this way, and nothing will ever alleviate the pain we feel from losing our Ben.
“There is a huge hole in our hearts with him gone and we will never get over losing him. We miss and will continue to miss him every single day. We have waited three years to get some kind of justice for Ben. Now that the investigation is over, we can now focus on grieving as a family.”
