Explainer
How 'psychopath' Damien Bendall was left free to carry out Killamarsh murder spree
A formal review into probation’s handling of quadruple murderer and violent rapist Damien Bendall has laid bare a litany of missed opportunities in the months and years leading up to the Killamarsh killings.
Despite being described as "cold and calculated and quite psychopathic", Bendall was left free to murder his pregnant partner and three children on 18 September 2021.
Here are the key dates, identified by inspectors, leading up to to the murders of 35-year-old Terri Harris, her 11-year-old daughter Lacey Bennett, her son John Paul Bennett, 13, and Lacey’s friend Connie Gent, 11.
2004
7 January: Bendall reprimanded for criminal damage after throwing an egg at a woman’s house aged 13.
2010
20 April: He receives a caution for possession of cocaine.
2011
30 June: Bendall is handed his first prison sentence after being jailed for three years for the violent robbery of a lone Asian man.
2012
16 August: He is released on home detention curfew to his mother’s house.
2015
21 August: Bendall is jailed for a further three years after the attempted knifepoint robbery of a newsagent.
2016
10 May: Bendall commits grievous bodily harm and two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against prison officers after being denied a prison transfer.
25 May: A prison officer records that Bendall’s ex-partner contacted the prison and disclosed domestic abuse in their relationship.
5 July: The same ex-partner contacts a probation officer disclosing domestic abuse in her relationship with Bendall and seeks guidance on how to obtain a restraining order.
12 July: Bendall’s ex-partner contacts same probation officer to say more should be done to protect her and that she wants to speak to a manager.
20 December: He is released on licence to an approved premises.
21 December: Bendall recalled to prison for breaching licence after failing to report to approved premises.
2017
29 January: Bendall sentenced to 30 months in prison for the attacks on prison officers.
2018
31 October: He is released on licence to an approved premises.
28 November: Bendall recalled to prison due to poor behaviour at the approved premises – including staying out all night, missing curfew and drinking alcohol on site.
2019
27 June: He is refused release in a parole review and refuses to engage with parole process again.
9 August: Bendall released from prison at the end of his sentence, so no post-release probation supervision was possible.
2020
17 March: Wiltshire Police’s child sexual exploitation team contacts probation to confirm Bendall’s last known address and say they held evidence of sexual risk of harm to girls.
9 May: Bendall commits arson in Swindon while using cannabis and alcohol.
2021
7 June: A member of the, then National Probation Service’s court team describes a curfew requirement for Bendall to live with Ms Harris and her children as "suitable" after not reading police evidence of sexual risk of harm to girls.
9 June: Bendall handed a 17-month suspended sentence with 175 hours unpaid work, 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, a six-month alcohol treatment requirement, and a five-month curfew requirement.
6 July: Probation officer’s risk assessment of Bendall says any resumption of alcohol or drugs would increase the risk of serious harm.
2 August: Bendall discloses smoking cannabis and drinking strong alcohol.
13 August: Probation officer contacts children’s services asking whether a referral is suitable due to Bendall’s cannabis use, but no formal referral is made or recommended.
10 September: Bendall sent initial warning after failing to comply with telephone probation appointment.
19 September: Bendall is arrested in connection with the murders of Terri Harris, Lacey Bennett, John Paul Bennett and Connie Gent.
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