A WOMAN whose partner was left permanently disabled in a one-punch assault has spoken of the devastation she still feels four years on from the attack.

On September 20, 2015, Caroline Sykes’s long-term partner, scaffolder Simon Hackett, was punched in the face and knocked to the ground as he walked home from a night out in Buttershaw.

Simon, 39, suffered catastrophic head and brain injuries which have left him unable to talk or walk and totally dependent on nursing care.

Countless operations followed and his family were unsure if he would even survive the attack. In 2016, Jordan Docherty was sentenced to four years in a young offender institution over the incident.

The heartache continues for Miss Sykes and her daughter, who was only 11 when her much-loved dad left home and didn’t return. Their bravery has been commended by Mark Burns-Williamson, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), who has vowed to highlight the struggles they have faced.

The devoted pair visit Simon most days at the Mirfield-based Hollybank Trust, where he is cared for, and are still fighting to bring him home so they can be reunited as a family.

It’s a fight which keeps them both going and they hope he will be able to return home soon.

Speaking about the ongoing impact on her and Simon’s daughter, Miss Sykes, 49, said:“She finds it very difficult, not to be able to involve her dad. The impact is for the rest of her life. She talks about when it comes to July next year, when they have the prom, she talks about everything. She just upset that we are not in our normal life.”

The fear Simon could lose his life before those pivotal moments - GCSEs, results, prom - is heart-wrenching for the brave mother and daughter.

“It’s still a struggle,” said Miss Sykes. “We are four years in to it and his life expectancy is 15, but no-one has got that glass ball. What keeps me going is looking forward to bringing Simon home, where he belongs, in his home environment and to make the most of the life we’ve got left with him, working towards our daughter doing as well as she can do in her life and giving her that support.”

She added: “Our life is not our own and it won’t be until he is home where he left from four years ago. There’s a big part of us missing.”

Miss Sykes has urged people to think about the consequences of their actions in the hope of preventing other families going through what she has. She recently with the PCC to talk about the impact of the attack.

Mr Burns Williamson said: “I met with Caroline earlier this month and heard about the devastating impact this tragic attack has had on her and the whole family. I want to say how courageous I found Caroline in rebuilding her life after such a difficult trauma that continues to present significant challenges to her daily life.

“Not only has her partner Simon been rendered completely reliant on his every need being met since this horrendous incident, Caroline has suffered significant difficulties and my office is helping to refer her to various support organisations to see what assistance they can offer Caroline and her daughter. Meeting Caroline has been very helpful in terms of hearing about identifying the gap in long term financial support for victims impacted by crime and I know that she feels that the criminal justice and health systems have failed to fully meet her and her daughter’s needs as victims.

“Following our meeting, and the concerns raised, I have agreed to see what additional support may be available from support organisations, will also discuss the case with Bradford South MP Judith Cummins and will be raising this case and the gaps it highlights with Dame Vera Baird, the Victims Commissioner for England and Wales, to ensure we are doing all we can to support Caroline and her family.”