Jacob Dunne: The True Story Behind His Life, Career and Second Chance
From a troubled childhood in Nottingham to prison, education and restorative justice, Jacob Dunne's story shows how one terrible decision changed several lives forever.
Introduction
Jacob Dunne is a British author, educator and restorative justice campaigner. He became known after serving a prison sentence for manslaughter following a fatal incident in Nottingham in 2011.
His life later took a different direction. He returned to education, earned a first-class criminology degree and began helping people understand the harm caused by violence.
His story also inspired the stage play Punch, written by James Graham.
But there is much more behind it. His work today focuses on responsibility, difficult conversations and preventing violence.
Quick Facts About Jacob Dunne
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jacob Dunne |
| Nationality | British |
| Hometown | Nottingham, England |
| Age | Approximately 34–35 in 2026 |
| Exact Date of Birth | Not publicly confirmed |
| Profession | Author, educator and campaigner |
| University | Nottingham Trent University |
| Qualification | First-class honours degree in criminology |
| Graduation Year | 2019 |
| Known For | Restorative justice work and Right from Wrong |
| Book | Right from Wrong: My Story of Guilt and Redemption |
| Radio Programme | The Punch |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Children | Two, as reported in 2022 |
| Organisation | Right From Wrong |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed |
| Official Website | jacobdunne.co.uk |
Growing Up in Nottingham
His childhood was not easy.
Dunne grew up on a council estate in Nottingham. School was difficult, and he struggled with his confidence.
He later admitted feeling unsuccessful because of his poor educational performance.
Instead of talking about those feelings, he tried to appear tough.
That attitude caused problems.
As a young man, he became involved in drug dealing, drinking and street fights. He spent time with friends who shared similar behaviour.
Fighting became part of his life.
Looking back, Dunne has spoken about wanting acceptance and respect from the people around him.
He had little idea how badly things could end.
The Night That Changed Everything
In 2011, Dunne became involved in a confrontation outside a pub in Nottingham.
He was 19 years old.
During the incident, he punched James Hodgkinson, a 28-year-old trainee paramedic.
Hodgkinson fell and suffered a serious head injury.
Nine days later, he died.
His death devastated his family. It also led to criminal proceedings against Dunne.
Dunne pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received a 30-month prison sentence.
He served approximately 14 months.
One act had lasting consequences.
Hodgkinson lost his life. His family faced an unimaginable loss, while Dunne went to prison and had to confront his responsibility for what happened.
Prison and the Difficult Years Afterward
Prison did not immediately change him.
Dunne has spoken about feeling angry during his sentence. At first, he blamed other people and struggled to accept the full impact of his actions.
Life after prison was difficult, too.
He faced problems finding work and rebuilding his future. His family had also experienced serious hardship.
His mother had lost her registered childminding status following his conviction. Financial problems followed, and she later died.
That loss affected him deeply.
Dunne also took responsibility for helping care for his younger brother, Sam.
His personal circumstances were changing.
Yet his biggest change came through a conversation he could never have expected.
Meeting the Parents of James Hodgkinson
James Hodgkinson’s parents, Joan Scourfield and David Hodgkinson, wanted answers about their son’s death.
They eventually contacted Dunne through a restorative justice process.
The communication started through letters.
Later, they met face to face.
These meetings allowed them to ask questions and explain the lasting pain caused by James’s death.
Dunne had to listen.
He also had to answer for his actions without blaming somebody else.
The process was difficult for everyone.
Joan eventually spoke about reaching a form of forgiveness. David expressed respect for Dunne’s efforts to change but made clear that he could not forgive him for taking his son’s life.
Their experiences show that restorative justice does not always lead to forgiveness.
It can still provide space for honest discussion.
For Dunne, those meetings became a major part of his decision to live differently.
Returning to Education
Education opened another door.
Dunne had left school without the qualifications he needed for a clear career path.
After prison, he returned to studying.
He worked through college courses and later completed an access course that allowed him to enter university.
In 2019, he graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a first-class honours degree in criminology.
That was a major personal achievement.
He had once struggled badly at school. Years later, he had completed a university degree studying crime and criminal behaviour.
His education also helped him build a career discussing rehabilitation and the justice system.
Building a Career Through Restorative Justice
Dunne began speaking publicly about his experiences.
He visited schools, prisons, universities and other organisations.
His talks addressed the consequences of violence, personal responsibility and ways to resolve conflict before somebody gets hurt.
He also shared what he had learned from communicating with James Hodgkinson’s parents.
His work became increasingly focused on restorative practice.
He founded Right From Wrong, an initiative offering training in handling conflict, taking responsibility and repairing relationships.
The programmes are aimed at settings including schools, prisons and organisations.
Dunne uses his own history to explain why people need better ways to deal with anger and disagreements.
He also makes clear that accepting responsibility is an ongoing process.
His Book: Right from Wrong
In May 2022, Dunne published his memoir, Right from Wrong: My Story of Guilt and Redemption, through HarperNorth.
The book gives readers a detailed account of his life.
It discusses his childhood in Nottingham, involvement in violence, prison sentence and the years that followed.
His family experiences are another major part of the memoir.
So is restorative justice.
Dunne writes about meeting the parents of the man he killed and learning to face the consequences of his actions.
The book also examines wider questions about rehabilitation and opportunities for young people.
It later provided the source material for a major theatre production.
The BBC Radio 4 Series
His story reached a wider audience in 2020.
Dunne presented The Punch, a five-part documentary series on BBC Radio 4.
The programme examined the fatal incident, his time in prison and the relationships that developed through restorative justice.
James Hodgkinson’s parents also contributed.
Their different feelings about grief and forgiveness gave listeners a fuller understanding of the experience.
The series won Best Factual Series at the 2021 Audio and Radio Industry Awards.
It became an important part of Dunne’s media career.
The Stage Play Based on His Life
Another major development came in 2024.
British playwright James Graham adapted Dunne’s memoir into the stage play Punch.
The production premiered at Nottingham Playhouse.
It follows Dunne’s early life, the death of James Hodgkinson and the difficult period afterward.
The play also gives attention to the experiences of Hodgkinson’s parents.
Its success brought the story to more audiences.
After Nottingham, the production reached London and Broadway.
In 2026, Punch won two Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Play.
A further UK tour has been announced for 2027.
The stage production introduced many people to restorative justice through a real and painful story.
His Wife, Children and Family Life
Dunne is married and has children.
A detailed interview published by The Guardian in May 2022 confirmed that he had two young children at the time.
His family life became an important part of his years after prison.
He has also spoken publicly about the death of his mother and the responsibilities he took on for his younger brother.
Still, he keeps certain family details private.
His wife’s name and his children’s personal information are not reliably established in the sources used for this article.
There is no reason to guess.
Does He Have a Publicly Known Net Worth?
His net worth is not publicly disclosed.
Dunne has worked as an author, speaker, presenter, educator and restorative justice practitioner.
His book and public appearances are part of his professional career.
However, there are no reliable public financial records establishing his personal wealth or yearly income.
Any precise net worth figure would be speculation.
His Work and Career in 2026
Dunne remains active in discussions about restorative justice and youth violence.
He is a co-founder of the Common Ground Justice Project, which brings people together to discuss problems within the criminal justice system.
His work includes conversations about rehabilitation, prevention and the experiences of people affected by crime.
In June 2026, The Guardian reported that he had become an unpaid government adviser on youth justice.
He has also discussed how loneliness and the search for belonging can influence young men who become involved in violent or extremist communities.
His public work now reaches well beyond the events of 2011.
Even so, that incident remains central to his story and the responsibility he continues to acknowledge.
Major Career Milestones
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Involved in the incident that caused James Hodgkinson’s death |
| 2012 | Released from prison |
| 2019 | Graduated from Nottingham Trent University |
| 2020 | Presented BBC Radio 4’s The Punch |
| 2021 | Won an ARIA award for the radio series |
| 2022 | Published Right from Wrong |
| 2024 | Punch premiered at Nottingham Playhouse |
| 2025 | Stage production reached Broadway |
| 2026 | Punch won two Olivier Awards |
| 2026 | Reported to be serving as an unpaid youth justice adviser |
What Makes His Story Different?
The central facts are difficult.
A man died. His family lost somebody they loved.
Dunne went to prison.
That history cannot be undone.
What makes his later life notable is the unusual relationship he developed with Hodgkinson’s parents through restorative justice.
They chose to communicate with him despite their grief.
Dunne returned to education and began working with people who might otherwise repeat some of his mistakes.
Their experiences have since been discussed in classrooms, prisons, books, radio programmes and theatres.
The story raises a difficult question: What should happen after somebody has caused serious harm, served a sentence and wants to change?
There is no simple answer.
For the people involved, the consequences remain personal.
Final Thought
Jacob Dunne’s life has changed considerably since 2011.
He went from prison to university, published a memoir and built a career in restorative justice.
His story is now known internationally through Punch.
But James Hodgkinson’s death remains the reason this story exists.
Dunne’s later achievements do not cancel that loss.
His work instead asks people to think about accountability, how violence begins and whether better conversations can help prevent future harm.
That is the work he continues today.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is Jacob Dunne?
Jacob Dunne is a British author, educator and restorative justice campaigner from Nottingham. He is known for his memoir Right from Wrong and his work following a manslaughter conviction.
2. How old is Jacob Dunne?
He is approximately 34–35 years old in 2026. His exact date of birth is not publicly confirmed.
3. Where did Jacob Dunne study?
He studied at Nottingham Trent University, graduating in 2019 with a first-class honours degree in criminology.
4. Why did Jacob Dunne go to prison?
He was convicted of manslaughter after punching James Hodgkinson during an incident in Nottingham in 2011. Hodgkinson later died from his injuries.
5. How long did he spend in prison?
He served approximately 14 months of a 30-month prison sentence.
6. Is Jacob Dunne married?
Yes. Public reporting confirms that he is married. His wife’s name has not been reliably established in the sources reviewed.
7. Does he have children?
Yes. A 2022 interview reported that he had two young children.
8. What is Jacob Dunne doing now?
As of 2026, he works in restorative justice, education and youth violence prevention. He is also a co-founder of the Common Ground Justice Project.
