Freddie Fontete-Jones' mum back Walk Away appeal

February 18, 2022 - It started as an ordinary day. Gifty Tetteh returned home from her night shift and went to bed. She woke up at 5pm and her son Freddie asked if she could mend his trousers. Gifty said she was cooking dinner and could do it afterwards. Freddie went out and he never came back.

It is believed that Freddie was called by his close friends; people he had grown up with, that there was trouble in town. He got a taxi and joined them to try to calm the situation down. But Freddie was punched unconscious and never woke up.

Police were called to New Canal, Salisbury at approximately 3am on February 20, following two 999 calls reporting disorder. When officers arrived, Freddie was unconscious and paramedics were giving first aid, before he was taken to hospital.

Officers called Gifty at work and told her Freddie had been injured and it was not looking good. She went to hospital but was told a couple of hours later that Freddie was unlikely to survive. Two days later, following tests, Freddie was declared dead.

Two years later Gifty said: "Even after now I couldn't believe that. Freddie's gone. I just feel like it's a nightmare. It's a dream that I am having that one day I'm going to wake up."

Gifty is supporting Wiltshire Police's Walk Away campaign, which aims to encourage anyone to exercise self-control and to walk away from heated situations before violence can break out. The campaign’s message also calls on friends and bystanders of potential offenders, as well as members of the public, to de-escalate a situation if safe to do so.

Gifty, Freddie's mum said: "I'm not telling you not to go out, it's good to go out and enjoy yourself. But please, please keep your hands to yourself. If you know that you have had too much to drink, just go home. It's better that than do something which you will regret and you put somebody's family through what I am going through.

"I don't want to wish this to anybody, no mother should have to go through this.  I didn't even have time to say goodbye to my son. So I am begging you; don't do this to anybody."

Watch the interview with Gifty Tetteh

Connor Pool, 25, of Salt Lane, Winterbourne Gunner, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to nine years at Winchester Crown Court in February 2023. He appealed his sentence and in July 2023 it was reduced to seven years and six months.

Freddie's death has left a lasting impact of his family, friends and community. But it has also changed the lives of the man convicted of Freddie's manslaughter, Connor and his family.

Gifty said: "I don't know what his mum is going through and I don't wish to go through what she is going through. If my son had killed somebody, for the rest of my life I would have to live with it. I'm going through pain but sometimes I think about his mum."

Find out more about the Walk Away campaign here