THE dad of two children who were among four killed by a monster who unleashed a horrific hammer attack at their sleepover says his "life is shattered in a billion pieces".
Sick Damien Bendall today admitted to killing Lacey, 11, her brother John, 13, their pregnant mum Terri Harris, 35, and pal Connie Gent, 11, at their home in Killamarsh, Derbys.
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Bendall, who was wearing prison issue grey sweatshirt and blue jeans, pleaded guilty to four counts of murder at Derby Crown Court this morning.
The court heard how the monster stalked through the home, killing his innocent victims with a claw hammer.
The deranged 32-year-old also pleaded guilty to raping little Lacey during the sick attack on September 19, 2021.
And the court today heard how the evil killer then callously called the police to tell them he had murdered four people - before meeting them outside the home to ask for a cigarette.
Read more on Damien Bendall
Footage has now been released of those chilling moments.
Dignified families of Bendall's victims looked him in the eyes as he entered his pleas from the dock, staring at the ground throughout.
He was this afternoon sentenced to a whole life order, and will die behind bars.
Mr Justice Sweeney told the court: "I have no doubt whatsoever, based on the facts of your case considered as a whole, that punishment requires you being kept in prison for the rest of your life."
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The heartbroken families' victim impact statements were read out in court - including Lacey and John's dad Jason Bennett.
The devastated father said: "It's like my life has been shattered into a billion pieces, never to be repaired.
"I no longer have a future. Life is empty. All I have is sadness. The love I crave is from my beautiful kids.
"I can't have that. It's a hole that can never be filled.
"I would do anything just to speak to them and say goodnight to my beautifuls."
Jason continued: "The murder of my two children has destroyed and taken my life away.
"Looking forward to the future is painful and difficult.
"I won't see them grow up or be given the opportunity to be a grandad."
Louis Mably KC, prosecuting, told the court this morning how the horror unfolded.
He said: "On the night of Saturday 18th September stretching into the early hours of Sunday morning the defendant brutally murdered Terri Harris, who was in the early stages of pregnancy.
"He also murdered Terri's two children by a previous partner. He also murdered Connie Gent, a friend of Lacey's who just happened to be staying at the house for a sleepover.
"The circ*mstances of the offences are truly hideous. These were brutal and cruel attacks on a woman and three children."
Mr Mabley continued: "The defendant attacked them using a claw hammer.
"He hit them with such ferocity that in essence their skulls were smashed in.
"It was perfectly clear none of the victims stood a chance."
The court heard how Bendall and Terri had met online about 18 months before the killings.
The couple's relationship was said to be categorised by his drug use and unstable behaviour and family said they "witnessed in effect a disastrous effect on Terri's wellbeing".
'LOVING MOTHER'
On the last day the victims were seen alive, young Connie and Lacy were out raising money for charity.
The pair loaded a table with goodies to raise money for cancer research after meeting a local sufferer.
Today, family wiped tears from their eyes as court was shown mobile phone footage of Lacey reading out the price list from the pals' fundraiser.
Mr Mably said how Terri had texted and asked the girls to be home by 8pm, and all the children were inside the home from then.
He continued: "The text messages as I say sent between Terri and her children that day showed she was a caring and loving mother who enjoyed a close and loving relationship with them."
Mr Mably said from 8.30pm onwards, Bendall, who was also in the house, was trying to contact his drug dealer to get cocaine.
The prosecutor said evidence suggests the attacks took place between 9.42pm and 10pm.
In the hours that followed Bendall took young John's Xbox from his room, called a taxi and went to exchange the console for drugs.
In the taxi he told the driver his night was "not too bad, bit mad".
'I JUST KILLED FOUR PEOPLE'
Bendall then told the cabbie he had been "just chilling with family, really".
At about 7am he spoke to his mother on the phone, before walking to the local shop to buy tobacco.
Mr Mably said: "At 7.26am, his mother called the police seeking for assistance for her son and she told him he had got a self-inflicted stab wound, which was what he told her.
"At 7.38am, he used Connie's phone to call 999."
The call was played in court, and Bendall can be heard saying: "I just need to report a crime.
"Basically I need the police and ambulance now because I just killed four people."
When two officers arrived they found Bendall outside the home, indicating he had stabbed himself in the chest.
Mr Mably said: "He showed the officers wounds to his chest to his upper right abdomen and said 'I'm not going back to prison again, I've murdered four people'."
Bendall said he "didn't know" why he did it and he "blacked out".
'THEY'RE ALL GONE'
The monster told an officer he had been inside with his family, to which they asked: "Are your family ok?"
Bendall said: "No. There's one in the bathroom, two upstairs and one in the bedroom."
He was cuffed and told to sit on the ground outside the property whilst one officer went inside.
The cop can be heard on the bodycam footage saying: "Oh Jesus.
"There's at least three casualties. Unresponsive. I think they're all dead.
"They're all gone mate, they're all gone."
Bendall was taken to hospital to be treated for "self-inflicted minor injuries" before being moved to custody.
Speaking at the police station, he said: "The whole house is covered in claret.
"I didn't realise what I did until I walked into my room and saw my missus and my daughter.
"Bet you don't get four murders in Killamarsh - well five as my missus is having my baby."
A post mortem confirmed Terri was in the early stages of pregnancy and a paternity test showed Bendall was the father.
The post mortem also found the mum suffered blunt-force trauma, with "at least nine and probably more" injuries to her head and face.
Lacey had suffered blunt-force trauma and a brain injury, and had defensive injuries on her forearms.
Mr Mably said the post mortem found pressure had been placed on her neck, and that she had also been raped.
Connie and John were also found to have blunt-force injuries, with John's suggesting he had tried to defend himself.
Bendall had been due to attend a plea hearing in November last year, but he was deemed too unwell to attend.
'LOST WITHOUT YOU'
Police confirmed a murder probe had been launched and said they were not looking for anyone else in connection with the "isolated" incident.
They also said they had no prior contact with those involved.
Tributes flooded in for Terri, Lacey, John and Connie after their tragic deaths.
In victim impact statements ready today, Terri's devastated mum Angela Smith opened up.
The heartbroken grandmother, who lost her three closest family members, said: "How could Bendall commit such horrific acts of violence against a womanand three defenceless children who posed no threat or harm towards him?
"The way they died haunts me every day."
'TRULY EVIL'
She recalled: "The kids would say 'I'm scared of monsters'. I told them 'there's no such thing as monsters'. How wrong I was."
She continued: "Terri was my only child - I will never have any other children or grandchildren.
"They were the most precious things in my life."
Connie's dad Charlie Gent's statement was also read out in court, and said: "The murder of my daughter has completely torn my life apart.
"I feel I have become a lost soul trying to navigate my way through life.
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"My heart is broken and shattered into pieces. No sentence will ever be sufficient justice for Connie's death.
"The man who did this can only be described as truly evil and should never be free from incarceration."
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