Tourist, 27, jailed after killing Brit dad, 31, with vodka bottle on Prague stag do in horror ‘blind attack’

A TOURIST has been jailed for seven years after killing a Brit dad on a stag do in the Czech Republic.

Joel Hoppe, a 27-year-old from Germany, was sentenced this week at a Prague court for the murder of David ‘Dai’ Richards in September last year.

David, a father of three, tragically died in September 2024WALES NEWS SERVICE David Richards with his partner Jola SimmsWALES NEWS SERVICE

David was a 31-year-old father-of-three from Mountain Ash in Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Czech Police spokesperson Jan Daněk said: “At first, everything was calm and the tourists were chatting normally.

“Then there was a rift between them and one of them hit the other in the head with a vodka bottle.

“The blow was so strong that the injured person immediately fell to the ground and unfortunately died in hospital.”

Hoppe pleaded guilty to fatal grievous bodily harm and disorderly conduct, according to Czech news outlet Odkryto.

He claimed he acted in a fit of rage and under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Hoppe said in court: “Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the late David and his children.

“I will accept whatever sentence you give me.”

Hoppe said: “It breaks my heart to see these people here today”, referring to David’s relatives who were at the sentencing.

David was a partner to Jola Simms and dad to three young kids – Aurora, four, Bear, two, and Vienna, one.

His family described him as an “absolutely amazing father, partner, son, brother, and friend” who was the “glue of the family”.

After the attack in September, his sister-in-law Tammy Sheehan, cousin Gemma Thomas and partner Miss Simms said: “It wasn’t a fight like what I think some people are thinking – it was a blind attack.

“From the attack he actually passed away from blunt force trauma.

“David was talking to locals in the street when he took a blow to the back of the head.”