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Double murderer Alan Bennett jailed for minimum 32 years

Alan Bennett killed his partner and ex-partner within moments of each other in Redcar in March this year

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Family statement for Redcar murder victim

Alan Bennett killed his current partner Lynne Freeman on the evening of March 23 before stabbing ex-partner Jodie Betteridge to death.

Cleveland Police read a statement on behalf of Ms Betteridge's family outside Teesside Crown Court:

It is difficult to put it into words the massive loss that we feel as Jodie was a wonderful daughter, sister, cousin, mother and friend.

To find out that Jodie was killed by Alan in front of their three young children makes this harder to comprehend and we can’t imagine the pain that she must have gone through.

Jodie was kind to everyone; she lived for her children as they were the most important people in her life and now she won’t be able to see them grow up. Jodie will never be forgotten and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

– Part of the statement by the family of Jodie Betteridge

Murderer Alan Bennett jailed for minimum 32 years

Double killer Alan Bennett Credit: Cleveland Police

Double killer Alan Bennett has been jailed for a minimum 32 years and 233 days for the murder of Lynne Freeman and Jodie Betteridge.

Sentencing Bennett at Teesside Crown Court, where he had earlier pleaded guilty to the murders, Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC told him: "You are a violent man. You are a man with a quick temper. "You are a man who expects to get his own way."

Bennett killed his current partner Lynne Freeman on the evening of March 23 before stabbing ex-partner Jodie Betteridge to death in front of their three children moments later.

As he was led away to the cells there was a cry of 'I hope you rot' from the gallery.

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