'Our whole future was taken away': Heartbreak continues for Reece Cox's partner as son cries for dad nearly every day

Rebecca Ball has been unable to return to work as a nurse due to fears that every patient she treats will bring back memories of Reece Cox, her partner who was murdered after trying to break up a fight in Sedgley last year.

Meanwhile she has had to explain to her five-year-old son why his "kind, loving and gorgeous" father is no longer with them.

Mr Cox's six killers were sentenced to combined jail terms of at least 95 years on Wednesday after a statement from Ms Ball was read to the court explaining how her son still cries almost every day nine months on from the brutal attack.

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"Reece was only 24, we had our whole future as a family taken away on the day he died," Ms Ball said.

"It was the sixth anniversary of the day we met, what should've been a happy day will be a reminder of his killing.

"It's now eight months after and we've not come to terms with it.

"I work full time as a nurse and I haven't been able to return, I fear every patient will bring back memories of Reece. In my dark nights I think how can I try to help others when the medical teams couldn't help Reece.

"Due to my full-time job we decided he would be a stay-at-home dad, this resulted in an amazing bond with his son.

"In the days and weeks after his death I had to explain to our boy his daddy would not be returning home.

"I told him daddy would be returning to heaven and saw the torment he went through, he cries for his daddy most days and every day I look at a photo taken three weeks after Reece died, he looks sad and lost."

Coverage of the case:

• Reece Cox murder trial: Six all played part in death, court told

• Man accused of murdering Reece Cox outside Sedgley pub is 'reliable' and 'hardworking'

• Man accused of murdering Reece Cox was trying to 'protect' his friend, jurors told

• Reece Cox accused cannot justify kicking young dad on ground

• Reece Cox murder-accused punched and kicked victim to 'stop fighting', court told

• Reece Cox murder trial: Defendant describes how he 'very stupidly kicked out' at young father

The five murderers - Wayne Burke, Shaquel Halliday, Shane Jones, Sebastian Jones and Adam Ashiwn - were given life sentences with minimum terms of between 16-and-a-half and 18 years.

Ryan Nicklin, who was found guilty of manslaughter, was given a 12-year jail term but will we be due for release after eight years. The killers were convicted after a trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

However Ms Ball said no sentence would ever be enough.

Mr Cox was an avid Wolves fan and scarves and shirts were left in tribute to him at the scene of the attack which happened outside The Clifton Wetherspoon pub in August.

"We've created a special place in the garden for Reece," Ms Ball continued.

"Our son tells everyone he is a Wolves fan and he wears his dad's top.

"Reece missed his son's first tooth falling out and him learning to read a book. He will never be able to see our son grow up and have children, go to college and get a job.

"He will never see me and Reece marry and that's my biggest regret. He learned about Jesus at Easter and came home and said 'if Jesus came home why can't daddy?'

"I worry every day about something happening to our son and Reece isn't there to help.

"Our son had his fifth birthday a couple of weeks after Reece died, we used sparklers to write messages and he asked the angels to look after daddy.

"He looks just like Reece, he's my constant reminder of Reece. I picture him in the pub with Reece watching football.

Coverage of the case:

• Reece Cox murder trial: Final kick alone could have killed young father, jury told

• Reece Cox trial: Father died from 'sustained blunt force trauma' with alcohol a contributing factor, court told

• Reece Cox: Man tells jury of attack by gang before father was killed outside pub

• 'This is not right': Jury told final words of heroic Reece Cox who died defending friend

• Reece Cox: 500 hours of CCTV trawled in Black Country murder probe

• Reece Cox murder: Trial told how father was beaten to death as he tried to help friend

"I have been supported so much by all of my family and friends but they have also struggled. We've held sponsored events in his memory.

"Covid meant we couldn't have a proper funeral, that in itself had a big impact on so many friends and family.

"Reece was a gentle giant, no aggression, he would step up and front something that wasn't right.

"It was no surprise he stepped in to help Grant Danbury and his girlfriend, he would do it without a thought it was in his nature.

"Reece was so proud of his appearance, it broke my heart to see him in the mortuary with his hair and beard shaved and his face swollen.

"He was a kind, loving and gorgeous person, he was a hero that night and lost his life saving someone else's.

"No sentence will ever be enough and nothing can bring him back."

Ashwin, 20, of Monument Lane, Sedgley, Burke, 23, of Queens Street, Pensnett; Halliday, 22, of Shadwell Drive, Lower Gornal; Jones, 26, of Orchard Grove, Lower Gornal; Nicklin, 22, of Limes Avenue, Pensnett; and Jones, 19, of Corser Street, Dudley, were also convicted of assault actioning actual bodily harm and violent disorder.

At the start of the trial, two other men Tyrone Halliday, aged 24, of Shadwell Drive, Lower Gornal, and Joe Williams, 18 of Frome Close, Lower Gornal, pleaded guilty to affray and causing actual bodily harm retrospectively.

Tyrone Halliday was given a community order for two years, 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days. Joe Williams was sentenced to a sentence of 12 months, reduced to 10 for his guilty plea, suspended for two years, 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days and to complete the Resolve programme. The pair hugged once they were told they could be released.