“Dave was a strong, fit, hardworking man, who lived honestly and treated people with respect.” These are the words from a family coming to terms with the death of their loved one as the person responsible for his death was jailed for 10 years at Leicester Crown Court today (Friday 22 May). On Sunday 21 December 2025, David Darke, 66 - known as Dave to family and friends – was on a Christmas night out at a pub in Appleby Magna when he was punched by 37-year-old Nathan Gothard.

A Christmas night out in December last year ended with a man being seriously injured after an assault outside a pub in Appleby Magna. Sadly, the victim never regained consciousness and died six days later. On Sunday 21 December 2025, David Darke, 66 - also known as Dave to family and friends – was on a Christmas night out at a pub in Appleby Magna when he was punched by 37-year-old Nathan Gothard. Dave fell to the ground and sustained a serious head injury. He was taken to th