A boyfriend who murdered his pregnant partner and three young children casually told police what he had done in chilling footage released today after he was jailed for life.
Damien Bendall, 32, raped and killed Lacey Bennett, 11, then murdered her brother John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother and his girlfriend Terri Harris, 35, and 11-year-old Connie Gent in Killamarsh, Derbyshire last year.
Justice Nigel Sweeney had no hesitation in handing him the rare punishment this afternoon, which means he will never be released.
In court this afternoon Judge Sweeney showed little belief in Bendall's pathetic attempt to explain away the killings by claiming he had a brain injury, something his own lawyer said no tests had proved. His drug use was also not accepted as a mitigating factor.
The judge told him: 'You have a significant background of violent offending.
'In April 2020 you began a relationship with Terri Harris which became abusive and controlling, distancing Terri from her family.
'On September 18, you carried out a brutal and vicious assault on a defenceless woman and three children. You attacked Lacey downstairs and carried her upstairs where you raped her on the bed where her mother had been killed as her life ebbed away.'
Bendall had shown no regard for any of his victims. After killing John, he stole his X-Box and took a taxi to Sheffield to sell it for drugs.
Prosecutor Louis Mably KC said Bendall - who once boasted about killing a dog with a brick - murdered each victim in a different room in the house with a claw hammer.
He said Lacey was raped as she lay dying, adding: 'The circumstances are truly hideous. Terri was in the early stages of pregnancy.
'It appears the defendant went around the house looking for them and attacking them each in turn.
'These were brutal, vicious and cruel attacks on a defenceless woman and three young children.
'The defendant attacked them using a claw hammer which he used to hit them over the head and on the upper body.
When police asked him why he mumbled 'I don't know. I blanked out, it's like I was, erm, outside my body but looking in.'
When you read about such heinous crimes as this, the level of inhumanity, the total lack of compassion or feeling, it really makes me wonder if these people are actually taken over by something so dark it's not even believed in by most people. I've had personal experience of living with someone who was a drug user. The final crunch came one night when I saw something else staring out of his eyes at me. It wasn't him. It was dark and malevolent and I knew I had to get out of that relationship. I do believe drugs open you up to things that are better left alone.
Maddog said
Dec 21 5:23 PM, 2022
A lot of these people are on medication. Now some need them, and are helped by them, but I think a significant number end up in a darker place..
We are messing with people's chemical make ups in their brain. And probably not helping many of them..
When you read about such heinous crimes as this, the level of inhumanity, the total lack of compassion or feeling, it really makes me wonder if these people are actually taken over by something so dark it's not even believed in by most people. I've had personal experience of living with someone who was a drug user. The final crunch came one night when I saw something else staring out of his eyes at me. It wasn't him. It was dark and malevolent and I knew I had to get out of that relationship. I do believe drugs open you up to things that are better left alone.
The Greek word pharmakeia appears in Galatians 5:20 and Revelation 18:23. Terms from the same root word appear in Revelation 9:21, Revelation 21:8, and Revelation 22:15. These are typically translated into English as “sorcery,” “witchcraft,” or “sorcerer.” Ancient Greek uses of pharmakeia closely mirror the generic modern English word drugs ;
I can attest to the fact that taking illicit drugs for pleasure is far removed from taking drugs as medication.
Drugs for pleasure especially that softest of soft drugs cannabis... is the one that is usually first to lead to casting bones in the moonlight.
Seriously.
Evil crimes?
I was in Strangeways for a few weeks having a rest when the news reports that really caught the eyes and ears of the residents and staff were of a large black guy roaming the streets of Hulme and Moss Side who was dragging women off the streets into churchyards parkland alleyways and so on and raping them.
When he had finished with them he'd ram a glass bottle up them and then smash it inside them.
I think he was caught after he'd badly damaged 7 or 8 women and was on his way to Strangeways.
I was on K wing which was a small overflow wing attached to the main remand wing.
The place was packed overcrowded etc and the two top floors Of K wing were just normal dispicables and the lower two were beasties. The beastie wing had overflowed into despicable land and everyone screws included were hyper as fuck about hurting this guy.
I was part of the cannabis supply so was in the privileged position of drawing straws with half a dozen other guys. We could all see this guys cell a floor below us on the opposite side of the wing.
The glass jar had been powdered and made ready shortest straw did the deed.
Thank fuck I didn't get that straw!
The guy who did was eager to get it done. Come slop out for us despicables came around in the evening and only two screws for around a hundred cons and they let us all out at once! It's fucking risky but much quicker.
This guy sneaks down to beastie level were all trying to make it not so obvious that were watching. He goes up to the Judas hole and shows a rollup and says got a light man and steps back. An eyeball appears at the hole and in a flash the tube loaded with powdered glass goes to this guys mouth and poof... it's blasted into the eyeball. First thing most people do is rub their eye... eyeball fucked.
I was out of their not long after but I know the evil bastard would have more to come from residents and staff alike for the rest of his HMP time.
Just thought I'd pop in on such a cheery topic come on guest you must be dying to have a go!
All the best everyone time to disappear into my own darkness yet again... bye.
Syl said
Dec 22 12:27 PM, 2022
Sounds like an episode of the Sopranos meets Peaky Blinders.
Syl said
Dec 22 12:32 PM, 2022
Personally, I think some people just have an empathy gene missing....they are wired differently.
They don't feel emotionally connected to others, they don't feel guilt, I imagine they can switch off from their crimes just as easily as others switch off a violent interactive online game.
No doubt in many cases, drugs heighten the need to act out their dark fantasies.
Anonymous said
Dec 22 4:37 PM, 2022
Syl wrote:
Personally, I think some people just have an empathy gene missing....they are wired differently.
They don't feel emotionally connected to others, they don't feel guilt, I imagine they can switch off from their crimes just as easily as others switch off a violent interactive online game.
No doubt in many cases, drugs heighten the need to act out their dark fantasies.
I have met more scumbags like that this year than I ever thought was possible.
Away from normal society there is a deep undercurrent of truly evil and ruthless people- I thought I was fairly streetwise until my recent experiences but not at all, there are so many people who would kill you for a few quid and if they got away with it would never think about their victim again.
Most people are ok - but a large minority are true monsters.
Phil.
Digger said
Dec 22 5:03 PM, 2022
Rollupnotengaged wrote:
Digger wrote:
When you read about such heinous crimes as this, the level of inhumanity, the total lack of compassion or feeling, it really makes me wonder if these people are actually taken over by something so dark it's not even believed in by most people. I've had personal experience of living with someone who was a drug user. The final crunch came one night when I saw something else staring out of his eyes at me. It wasn't him. It was dark and malevolent and I knew I had to get out of that relationship. I do believe drugs open you up to things that are better left alone.
The Greek word pharmakeia appears in Galatians 5:20 and Revelation 18:23. Terms from the same root word appear in Revelation 9:21, Revelation 21:8, and Revelation 22:15. These are typically translated into English as “sorcery,” “witchcraft,” or “sorcerer.” Ancient Greek uses of pharmakeia closely mirror the generic modern English word drugs ;
I can attest to the fact that taking illicit drugs for pleasure is far removed from taking drugs as medication.
Drugs for pleasure especially that softest of soft drugs cannabis... is the one that is usually first to lead to casting bones in the moonlight.
Seriously.
Evil crimes?
I was in Strangeways for a few weeks having a rest when the news reports that really caught the eyes and ears of the residents and staff were of a large black guy roaming the streets of Hulme and Moss Side who was dragging women off the streets into churchyards parkland alleyways and so on and raping them.
When he had finished with them he'd ram a glass bottle up them and then smash it inside them.
I think he was caught after he'd badly damaged 7 or 8 women and was on his way to Strangeways.
I was on K wing which was a small overflow wing attached to the main remand wing.
The place was packed overcrowded etc and the two top floors Of K wing were just normal dispicables and the lower two were beasties. The beastie wing had overflowed into despicable land and everyone screws included were hyper as fuck about hurting this guy.
I was part of the cannabis supply so was in the privileged position of drawing straws with half a dozen other guys. We could all see this guys cell a floor below us on the opposite side of the wing.
The glass jar had been powdered and made ready shortest straw did the deed.
Thank fuck I didn't get that straw!
The guy who did was eager to get it done. Come slop out for us despicables came around in the evening and only two screws for around a hundred cons and they let us all out at once! It's fucking risky but much quicker.
This guy sneaks down to beastie level were all trying to make it not so obvious that were watching. He goes up to the Judas hole and shows a rollup and says got a light man and steps back. An eyeball appears at the hole and in a flash the tube loaded with powdered glass goes to this guys mouth and poof... it's blasted into the eyeball. First thing most people do is rub their eye... eyeball fucked.
I was out of their not long after but I know the evil bastard would have more to come from residents and staff alike for the rest of his HMP time.
Just thought I'd pop in on such a cheery topic come on guest you must be dying to have a go!
All the best everyone time to disappear into my own darkness yet again... bye.
My ex husband had to visit Strangeways on a regular basis when he worked in CDC as a police officer. (Criminal Detention Centre). One day someone upended a potty of piss all over him. He was most disgruntled. Even I laughed.
-- Edited by Digger on Thursday 22nd of December 2022 05:04:02 PM
Maddog said
Dec 22 5:13 PM, 2022
Syl wrote:
Personally, I think some people just have an empathy gene missing....they are wired differently.
They don't feel emotionally connected to others, they don't feel guilt, I imagine they can switch off from their crimes just as easily as others switch off a violent interactive online game.
No doubt in many cases, drugs heighten the need to act out their dark fantasies.
I'm talking about prescription drugs. Drugs that are supposed to help people with their demons and we are finding out these chemical concoctions are useless or harming people.
In the US, we are far more medicated than any people on the planet. We should be the best behaved and the most stable, right? 🤷♂️
Syl said
Dec 22 6:44 PM, 2022
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Personally, I think some people just have an empathy gene missing....they are wired differently.
They don't feel emotionally connected to others, they don't feel guilt, I imagine they can switch off from their crimes just as easily as others switch off a violent interactive online game.
No doubt in many cases, drugs heighten the need to act out their dark fantasies.
I'm talking about prescription drugs. Drugs that are supposed to help people with their demons and we are finding out these chemical concoctions are useless or harming people.
In the US, we are far more medicated than any people on the planet. We should be the best behaved and the most stable, right? 🤷♂️
Surely studies must have been made on how many convicted killers and psychopaths are taking certain prescribed drugs
I do know there are drugs given, often to younger people, that evokes suicidal thoughts, I was reading of one girl who recently committed suicide here, and according to her mother, she was not suicidal till she began taking this medication. There is also a drug prescribed for acne that is said to cause depressive suicidal thoughts.
Why do so many people nowadays seem to feel they need mind altering meds?
I have to be half dead before I even take an aspirin.
Maddog said
Dec 22 9:26 PM, 2022
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Personally, I think some people just have an empathy gene missing....they are wired differently.
They don't feel emotionally connected to others, they don't feel guilt, I imagine they can switch off from their crimes just as easily as others switch off a violent interactive online game.
No doubt in many cases, drugs heighten the need to act out their dark fantasies.
I'm talking about prescription drugs. Drugs that are supposed to help people with their demons and we are finding out these chemical concoctions are useless or harming people.
In the US, we are far more medicated than any people on the planet. We should be the best behaved and the most stable, right? 🤷♂️
Surely studies must have been made on how many convicted killers and psychopaths are taking certain prescribed drugs
I do know there are drugs given, often to younger people, that evokes suicidal thoughts, I was reading of one girl who recently committed suicide here, and according to her mother, she was not suicidal till she began taking this medication. There is also a drug prescribed for acne that is said to cause depressive suicidal thoughts.
Why do so many people nowadays seem to feel they need mind altering meds?
I have to be half dead before I even take an aspirin.
A lot have taken the meds. The problem is, they have already been diagnosed with problems which is why they are on the meds. And most people with same diagnoses, with or without the meds, don't do anything stupid.
But if you are talking about millions of medicated people, one out of thousand adversely impacted is a sizable number of people.
Worse are people that cycle on and off of meds when they aren't supposed to. You can't do that with SSRIs.
Syl said
Dec 23 12:51 PM, 2022
Most people who have serious psychological problems start to show signs early on. often in childhood..
If they were addressed then, and not by mind altering drugs, I'm sure there would be less adults walking around like zombies.
The problem is people rely on drugs once they are on them, I bet in a good % of people, other ways of coping could have been used.
Maddog said
Dec 23 1:20 PM, 2022
Syl wrote:
Most people who have serious psychological problems start to show signs early on. often in childhood.. If they were addressed then, and not by mind altering drugs, I'm sure there would be less adults walking around like zombies.
The problem is people rely on drugs once they are on them, I bet in a good % of people, other ways of coping could have been used.
My thoughts exactly. I have always been a firm believer in teaching coping skills. In making coping with life the default position for kids, dogs whatever..
But that takes time, attention and work. It's easier to take a pill. Intuitively, I figured it can't be that easy (the pill), and there has to be a downside. I think we are seeing it. I don't think the human body or brain was designed that poorly that a significant percentage of the people on this planet need a pill to function emotionally or mentally..
The phrase "first world problems" comes to mind. Many can't handle simple problems far less worrisome than a lion trying to make you his dinner..
Syl said
Dec 23 6:39 PM, 2022
So called modern society seems to have brought up a hell of a lot of problems that we didn't see when life was much simpler.
Apart from all the mental health problems that so many seem to develop now, illnesses like anorexia and bulimia were never heard of...probably because pre 50's food wasn't that plentiful for the majority, now it seems, like sexual confusion, they are almost fashionable.
Maddog said
Dec 23 7:25 PM, 2022
Syl wrote:
So called modern society seems to have brought up a hell of a lot of problems that we didn't see when life was much simpler.
Apart from all the mental health problems that so many seem to develop now, illnesses like anorexia and bulimia were never heard of...probably because pre 50's food wasn't that plentiful for the majority, now it seems, like sexual confusion, they are almost fashionable.
Some of these things have the zealotry of a religion. 🤷♂️
Digger said
Dec 31 12:45 AM, 2022
A 'house of horrors' where a 'truly evil' monster murdered his pregnant partner and three children with a claw hammer is set to be demolished after the killer was jailed for life.
Council chiefs say they intend to knock down the 1950s pebble-dash semi where drug-using 'career criminal' Damien Bendall raped and murdered Lacey Bennett, 11, before killing her brother John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother Terri Harris, 35, and their friend Connie Gent, 11.
North East Derbyshire District Council, which owns the property valued at roughly £100,000, came to the decision after tenants in the adjoining home in Killamarsh asked to leave.
And a spokesman added that the building would be replaced with a 'fitting commemoration' to those who lost their lives there on September 19 last year.
Syl said
Dec 31 1:48 PM, 2022
I pity the poor soul who lives next door.
Hopefully they will be rehoused somewhere fitting to them.
Maddog said
Dec 31 2:21 PM, 2022
Digger wrote:
A 'house of horrors' where a 'truly evil' monster murdered his pregnant partner and three children with a claw hammer is set to be demolished after the killer was jailed for life.
Council chiefs say they intend to knock down the 1950s pebble-dash semi where drug-using 'career criminal' Damien Bendall raped and murdered Lacey Bennett, 11, before killing her brother John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother Terri Harris, 35, and their friend Connie Gent, 11.
North East Derbyshire District Council, which owns the property valued at roughly £100,000, came to the decision after tenants in the adjoining home in Killamarsh asked to leave.
And a spokesman added that the building would be replaced with a 'fitting commemoration' to those who lost their lives there on September 19 last year.
In my business those are called stigmatized properties. They are often torn down because people just don't want to live in them.
A boyfriend who murdered his pregnant partner and three young children casually told police what he had done in chilling footage released today after he was jailed for life.
Damien Bendall, 32, raped and killed Lacey Bennett, 11, then murdered her brother John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother and his girlfriend Terri Harris, 35, and 11-year-old Connie Gent in Killamarsh, Derbyshire last year.
Justice Nigel Sweeney had no hesitation in handing him the rare punishment this afternoon, which means he will never be released.
In court this afternoon Judge Sweeney showed little belief in Bendall's pathetic attempt to explain away the killings by claiming he had a brain injury, something his own lawyer said no tests had proved. His drug use was also not accepted as a mitigating factor.
The judge told him: 'You have a significant background of violent offending.
'In April 2020 you began a relationship with Terri Harris which became abusive and controlling, distancing Terri from her family.
'On September 18, you carried out a brutal and vicious assault on a defenceless woman and three children. You attacked Lacey downstairs and carried her upstairs where you raped her on the bed where her mother had been killed as her life ebbed away.'
Bendall had shown no regard for any of his victims. After killing John, he stole his X-Box and took a taxi to Sheffield to sell it for drugs.
Prosecutor Louis Mably KC said Bendall - who once boasted about killing a dog with a brick - murdered each victim in a different room in the house with a claw hammer.
He said Lacey was raped as she lay dying, adding: 'The circumstances are truly hideous. Terri was in the early stages of pregnancy.
'It appears the defendant went around the house looking for them and attacking them each in turn.
'These were brutal, vicious and cruel attacks on a defenceless woman and three young children.
'The defendant attacked them using a claw hammer which he used to hit them over the head and on the upper body.
When police asked him why he mumbled 'I don't know. I blanked out, it's like I was, erm, outside my body but looking in.'
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11562327
When you read about such heinous crimes as this, the level of inhumanity, the total lack of compassion or feeling, it really makes me wonder if these people are actually taken over by something so dark it's not even believed in by most people. I've had personal experience of living with someone who was a drug user. The final crunch came one night when I saw something else staring out of his eyes at me. It wasn't him. It was dark and malevolent and I knew I had to get out of that relationship. I do believe drugs open you up to things that are better left alone.
We are messing with people's chemical make ups in their brain. And probably not helping many of them..
www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/20/scientists-question-widespread-use-of-antidepressants-after-survey-on-serotonin
The Greek word pharmakeia appears in Galatians 5:20 and Revelation 18:23. Terms from the same root word appear in Revelation 9:21, Revelation 21:8, and Revelation 22:15. These are typically translated into English as “sorcery,” “witchcraft,” or “sorcerer.” Ancient Greek uses of pharmakeia closely mirror the generic modern English word drugs ;
I can attest to the fact that taking illicit drugs for pleasure is far removed from taking drugs as medication.
Drugs for pleasure especially that softest of soft drugs cannabis... is the one that is usually first to lead to casting bones in the moonlight.
Seriously.
Evil crimes?
I was in Strangeways for a few weeks having a rest when the news reports that really caught the eyes and ears of the residents and staff were of a large black guy roaming the streets of Hulme and Moss Side who was dragging women off the streets into churchyards parkland alleyways and so on and raping them.
When he had finished with them he'd ram a glass bottle up them and then smash it inside them.
I think he was caught after he'd badly damaged 7 or 8 women and was on his way to Strangeways.
I was on K wing which was a small overflow wing attached to the main remand wing.
The place was packed overcrowded etc and the two top floors Of K wing were just normal dispicables and the lower two were beasties. The beastie wing had overflowed into despicable land and everyone screws included were hyper as fuck about hurting this guy.
I was part of the cannabis supply so was in the privileged position of drawing straws with half a dozen other guys. We could all see this guys cell a floor below us on the opposite side of the wing.
The glass jar had been powdered and made ready shortest straw did the deed.
Thank fuck I didn't get that straw!
The guy who did was eager to get it done. Come slop out for us despicables came around in the evening and only two screws for around a hundred cons and they let us all out at once! It's fucking risky but much quicker.
This guy sneaks down to beastie level were all trying to make it not so obvious that were watching. He goes up to the Judas hole and shows a rollup and says got a light man and steps back. An eyeball appears at the hole and in a flash the tube loaded with powdered glass goes to this guys mouth and poof... it's blasted into the eyeball. First thing most people do is rub their eye... eyeball fucked.
I was out of their not long after but I know the evil bastard would have more to come from residents and staff alike for the rest of his HMP time.
Just thought I'd pop in on such a cheery topic come on guest you must be dying to have a go!
All the best everyone time to disappear into my own darkness yet again... bye.
Sounds like an episode of the Sopranos meets Peaky Blinders.
They don't feel emotionally connected to others, they don't feel guilt, I imagine they can switch off from their crimes just as easily as others switch off a violent interactive online game.
No doubt in many cases, drugs heighten the need to act out their dark fantasies.
I have met more scumbags like that this year than I ever thought was possible.
Away from normal society there is a deep undercurrent of truly evil and ruthless people- I thought I was fairly streetwise until my recent experiences but not at all, there are so many people who would kill you for a few quid and if they got away with it would never think about their victim again.
Most people are ok - but a large minority are true monsters.
Phil.
My ex husband had to visit Strangeways on a regular basis when he worked in CDC as a police officer. (Criminal Detention Centre). One day someone upended a potty of piss all over him. He was most disgruntled. Even I laughed.
-- Edited by Digger on Thursday 22nd of December 2022 05:04:02 PM
I'm talking about prescription drugs. Drugs that are supposed to help people with their demons and we are finding out these chemical concoctions are useless or harming people.
In the US, we are far more medicated than any people on the planet. We should be the best behaved and the most stable, right? 🤷♂️
Surely studies must have been made on how many convicted killers and psychopaths are taking certain prescribed drugs
I do know there are drugs given, often to younger people, that evokes suicidal thoughts, I was reading of one girl who recently committed suicide here, and according to her mother, she was not suicidal till she began taking this medication. There is also a drug prescribed for acne that is said to cause depressive suicidal thoughts.
Why do so many people nowadays seem to feel they need mind altering meds?
I have to be half dead before I even take an aspirin.
A lot have taken the meds. The problem is, they have already been diagnosed with problems which is why they are on the meds. And most people with same diagnoses, with or without the meds, don't do anything stupid.
But if you are talking about millions of medicated people, one out of thousand adversely impacted is a sizable number of people.
Worse are people that cycle on and off of meds when they aren't supposed to. You can't do that with SSRIs.
If they were addressed then, and not by mind altering drugs, I'm sure there would be less adults walking around like zombies.
The problem is people rely on drugs once they are on them, I bet in a good % of people, other ways of coping could have been used.
My thoughts exactly. I have always been a firm believer in teaching coping skills. In making coping with life the default position for kids, dogs whatever..
But that takes time, attention and work. It's easier to take a pill. Intuitively, I figured it can't be that easy (the pill), and there has to be a downside. I think we are seeing it. I don't think the human body or brain was designed that poorly that a significant percentage of the people on this planet need a pill to function emotionally or mentally..
The phrase "first world problems" comes to mind. Many can't handle simple problems far less worrisome than a lion trying to make you his dinner..
Apart from all the mental health problems that so many seem to develop now, illnesses like anorexia and bulimia were never heard of...probably because pre 50's food wasn't that plentiful for the majority, now it seems, like sexual confusion, they are almost fashionable.
Some of these things have the zealotry of a religion. 🤷♂️
A 'house of horrors' where a 'truly evil' monster murdered his pregnant partner and three children with a claw hammer is set to be demolished after the killer was jailed for life.
Council chiefs say they intend to knock down the 1950s pebble-dash semi where drug-using 'career criminal' Damien Bendall raped and murdered Lacey Bennett, 11, before killing her brother John Paul Bennett, 13, their mother Terri Harris, 35, and their friend Connie Gent, 11.
North East Derbyshire District Council, which owns the property valued at roughly £100,000, came to the decision after tenants in the adjoining home in Killamarsh asked to leave.
And a spokesman added that the building would be replaced with a 'fitting commemoration' to those who lost their lives there on September 19 last year.
Hopefully they will be rehoused somewhere fitting to them.
In my business those are called stigmatized properties. They are often torn down because people just don't want to live in them.