Killamarsh deaths: Review how probation officers handled the Damien Bendall case | UK News

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There will be a formal review of the Probation Service’s handling of the Damien Bendall case before he murdered his three children and his pregnant partner.

Bendall used a claw hammer to kill 35-year-old Terry Harris, her 11-year-old daughter Lacey Bennett, her son John Paul Bennett, 13, and Lacey’s girlfriend Connie Gent, 11.

Bendall also admitted to raping Lacey during the attack in September last year at the house he shared with Harris in Killamarsh, Derbyshire.

Photo: Terry Harris with her children Lacey and John Paul Bennett Photo: Terry Harris. Pic: Derbyshire Police Image: Connie Gent. Pic: Derbyshire Police

The 32-year-old was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday.

Bendall was on probation for arson, robbery, attempted robbery, and aggravated physical convictions and was serving a 24-month suspended sentence when he carried out the murders.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the probation officer who assessed Bendall for sentencing in the arson case had been sacked for gross misconduct after classifying him as “medium risk” rather than “high risk”.

Another probation officer was found guilty of misconduct after the case was referred to a trainee.

A Department of Justice spokesperson said: “These are horrific crimes and our thoughts are with the families of the victims.

“The Deputy Prime Minister has asked the Chief Monitoring Inspector to conduct a review of this issue and we will respond again as soon as this is published.”

The review is likely to be released in the new year.

Former Justice Secretary Sir Robert Buckland, who left office just three days before Killamarsh was killed, said: “I think we have to admit that such a mistake is just an appalling failure.

“The ministry needs to be as open and transparent as possible about why it happened and, most importantly, make sure the risks of this happening again are minimized, if not eliminated.

“Frankly, there should be processes in place which mean that various thresholds and checks will be met before this kind of fundamental error is made.”

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