Families of Bendall victims say probation failings ‘must never happen again’

The Probation Service was found by a coroner to have contributed to the deaths of Terri Harris, John Paul Bennett, Lacey Bennett and Connie Gent.

The families of the victims of Damien Bendall have said the “litany” of failures by the Probation Service that contributed to the murders of their loved ones “must never happen again”.

A coroner found that numerous systemic and individual failings within the organisation played a role in Bendall murdering his pregnant partner, Terri Harris, her children John Paul and Lacey Bennett and Lacey’s friend, Connie Gent, in September 2021.

The families of the victims, who attended throughout the two-week inquests at Chesterfield Coroners’ Court, said following their conclusion that the Probation Service had “continuously failed” to protect women and children from dangerous offenders.

Speaking outside the court on Monday, Oliver Carter, representing Jason Bennett – father of John Paul and Lacey – and Connie’s mother, Kerry Shelton, said the children were “kind and caring” and had been selling sweets to raise money for charity on the day they were killed.

He said: “During the course of the inquest a litany of failings by the Probation Service as to how Damien Bendall was able to commit the terrible crimes he did have been laid bare.

“The hardest thing for them (Jason and Kerry) to accept is how failings by the authorities exposed their children to a serious risk of harm. Jason and Kerry believe that if appropriate measures had been taken, their children would still be alive today.

“They’re adamant that decisive action now needs to be taken to address the issues identified during the course of the inquest.

The organisations that could have protected the families need to accept the inquest’s findings and take meaningful and lasting steps to reduce the risk of a similar incident happening again.

Oliver Carter

“It is vital that the Probation Service takes proper action following the Report to Prevent Future Deaths which will be made by the coroner.

“Too often in the past, we’ve seen reviews and investigations make recommendations which have taken years to implement. It’s crucial that the findings of the inquest aren’t pushed aside.

“The organisations that could have protected the families need to accept the inquest’s findings and take meaningful and lasting steps to reduce the risk of a similar incident happening again.”

Bendall was given a whole life order in December 2022 for what the coroner described as the “brutal and savage” murders of Ms Harris, 35, John Paul, 13, and Lacey and Connie, both aged 11.

At the time of the murders, he was under curfew at Ms Harris’ home in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, but no safeguarding checks were carried out with Ms Harris or her children prior to it commencing or during it.

The inquests also heard that there were multiple missed opportunities in Bendall’s supervision by a number of overworked, stressed and inexperienced probation staff.

Peter Nieto, the senior coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, highlighted multiple systemic failings within the Probation Service over issues including supervision, training and auditing, which accepted 51 individual failings.

The Probation Service has continuously failed to do enough to protect women and children like Terri and our grandchildren.

Farva Butt, on behalf of Angela Smith and Lawrence Harris

Also reading a statement outside court, Farva Butt, representing Ms Harris’ parents, Angela Smith and Lawrence Harris, said: “The Probation Service failed to protect and keep our family safe. They are now gone. This must never happen again.

“His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation has been telling the Probation Service for many years that they were failing women and children at risk from violent men with a history of domestic abuse.

“The Probation Service has continuously failed to do enough to protect women and children like Terri and our grandchildren.

“Bendall is a violent and dangerous high-risk offender with a history of domestic abuse and risk to children.

“Despite knowing this, the Probation Service told the courts that it was safe for him to be curfewed to our Terri’s house.

“No-one from the Probation Service spoke to Terri to warn her about the dangers he posed to her and the children. If she had known about how dangerous he was she would never have had any involvement with him.

“We are pleased that the coroner will make some recommendations to prevent future deaths.

“We hope that no other family has to live through the trauma that we have to every day.”