Killamarsh murders: Review under way over probation service handling

Terri Harris (bottom left) and her children John Bennett (top left) and Lacey Bennett (bottom right) were killed along with Lacey's friend Connie Gent (top right)

A review is taking place into how probation officers handled the case of a man who murdered a pregnant woman and three children while serving a suspended sentence.

Damien Bendall was given a whole-life term for killing Terri Harris, her children John and Lacey Bennett, and their friend Connie Gent.

The 32-year-old used a claw hammer to kill his victims at a house in Killamarsh in Derbyshire in 2021.

He also admitted raping Lacey.

Bendall had previously been convicted of several violent offences, and the review is examining the way the risk he posed was managed by the probation service.

His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and Probation Justin Russell was asked to investigate by the Justice Secretary Dominic Raab in September 2021 as the scale of Bendall's previous crimes became clear.

The review is likely to be published early in the new year. It will first be shared with the families of Bendall's victims but is expected to be made public.

A probation officer who assessed Bendall's previous criminal record has been sacked for gross misconduct and another member of staff suspended.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "These were appalling crimes and our thoughts remain with the victims' families.

"The Deputy Prime Minister [Dominic Raab] asked the Chief Inspector of Probation to conduct a review of this case and we will respond further once this is published."

Bendall was sentenced at Derby Crown Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Ms Harris and the children were found dead at a house in Chandos Crescent on 19 September, having been killed the previous evening.

Bendall and Ms Harris had been in a relationship, having met on a dating app after her relationship with her children's father ended.

The court heard Bendall went from room to room, using the claw hammer to kill the woman and children in turn.

The judge, Mr Justice Sweeney, described the attacks as "vicious, brutal and cruel", with all parties agreeing a whole-life order was appropriate.

Multiple convictions

Details of Bendall's previous offences - which included violent crimes - were given at the hearing.

He had previously received a three-year sentence for robbery, and another three-year sentence for attempted robbery and possession of a knife.

He had also been given a 54-month prison sentence for inflicting grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

However, the suspended sentence he was serving at the time of the murders was for arson, rather than a violent offence.

It was committed on 9 May 2020 - shortly after Bendall and Ms Harris started their relationship in around April 2020.

Damien Bendall admitted four murders and the rape of 11-year-old Lacey

The court heard Ms Harris was aware of this and had encouraged Bendall to hand himself in to the police.

He was sentenced on 9 June 2021 at Swindon Crown Court - three-and-a-half months before the murders.

The judge gave him a 17-month prison sentence, but suspended this for two years.

Bendall was then supervised by the probation service while living with Ms Harris in Killamarsh, with one of the conditions of his sentence being an overnight curfew, monitored by an electronic tag.

The decisions of staff who oversaw Bendall's case are the subject of the independent review.

John and Lacey, shown here with their father, were aged 13 and 11 when they were murdered

The sentencing hearing heard that Bendall had previously killed a dog by hitting it around the head with a brick, apparently because his friend could not afford vets bills.

Ms Harris's mother Angela Smith became concerned when Bendall told her about this, the court heard.

Ms Smith was also concerned about Bendall's use of drugs, the court heard, and had told her daughter to end the relationship.

"In the view of Terri's mother, the defendant was controlling of her daughter and she gave Terri an ultimatum between ending her relationship with the defendant or losing her relationship with her mother," prosecution barrister Louis Mably KC said.

Despite this, the relationship continued.

'Gave him a chance'

"When I was told the harrowing news that Terri, Lacey and John had been murdered I instantly knew it could only have been Damien Bendall," Ms Smith said in her victim personal statement.

"The person who has taken my world from me, Damien Bendall, is someone who I initially welcomed into my home and on occasions he has stayed over with Terri.

"This was against my better judgement and as I became aware of his violent past I still gave him a chance as this was what Terri wanted, and he told me he had changed and would never hurt Terri or the children.

"Terri was a fantastic mum. She adored Lacey and John, who were her life, and they had a fantastic bond. Terri wouldn't have done anything to jeopardise the children's wellbeing."