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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Alan Bennett admits murdering two Redcar women | Alan Bennett admits murdering two Redcar women |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A man who murdered his partner and an ex-girlfriend within minutes of each other has been given two life sentences and jailed for at least 32 years. | A man who murdered his partner and an ex-girlfriend within minutes of each other has been given two life sentences and jailed for at least 32 years. |
| Alan Bennett, 34, killed Lynne Freeman, 46, before stabbing Jodie Betteridge 132 times in front of their three children in Redcar on 23 March. | Alan Bennett, 34, killed Lynne Freeman, 46, before stabbing Jodie Betteridge 132 times in front of their three children in Redcar on 23 March. |
| Bennett, of Lingholme, Redcar, admitted both murders when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court. | Bennett, of Lingholme, Redcar, admitted both murders when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court. |
| When arrested, he said: "I have done what had to be done." | When arrested, he said: "I have done what had to be done." |
| For live updates on this story click here. | For live updates on this story click here. |
| Double killer had history of violence | Double killer had history of violence |
| Bennett and Ms Freeman had been out drinking together in several pubs in Redcar town centre on the day of the attacks. | Bennett and Ms Freeman had been out drinking together in several pubs in Redcar town centre on the day of the attacks. |
| Witnesses reported them arguing on the bus home with Bennett raising his voice several times. | Witnesses reported them arguing on the bus home with Bennett raising his voice several times. |
| Bennett was heard telling Ms Freeman: "Wait until I get you home, I'll get your attention." | Bennett was heard telling Ms Freeman: "Wait until I get you home, I'll get your attention." |
| At about 20:45 Bennett called the police to Ms Freeman's home on Mapleton Crescent where they found her with 13 stab wounds to her neck and chest. | At about 20:45 Bennett called the police to Ms Freeman's home on Mapleton Crescent where they found her with 13 stab wounds to her neck and chest. |
| Seven minutes later, Ms Betteridge, 30, who had been in a relationship with Bennett from 2005 to 2014, was attacked at her home on Byland Close, first inside the house then in the garden. | Seven minutes later, Ms Betteridge, 30, who had been in a relationship with Bennett from 2005 to 2014, was attacked at her home on Byland Close, first inside the house then in the garden. |
| 'Crazed maniac' | 'Crazed maniac' |
| She suffered injuries to her legs, arms, face, neck and torso with the killing witnessed by their three young children. | She suffered injuries to her legs, arms, face, neck and torso with the killing witnessed by their three young children. |
| Thirty of the blows were to her head and, had she survived, she would have been left significantly disfigured. | Thirty of the blows were to her head and, had she survived, she would have been left significantly disfigured. |
| The knife, which was used for both attacks, snapped during the murder of Ms Betteridge. | The knife, which was used for both attacks, snapped during the murder of Ms Betteridge. |
| Neighbours were shouting and screaming during the attack and described Bennett as being like a "crazed maniac". | Neighbours were shouting and screaming during the attack and described Bennett as being like a "crazed maniac". |
| Bennett was arrested at the scene and told police: "I have done what had to be done." | Bennett was arrested at the scene and told police: "I have done what had to be done." |
| Bennett started a relationship in early 2015 with Ms Freeman but had known her before then. | Bennett started a relationship in early 2015 with Ms Freeman but had known her before then. |
| Whilst they did not live with each other, they did spend a lot of time in each other's company, often staying over at their respective addresses. | Whilst they did not live with each other, they did spend a lot of time in each other's company, often staying over at their respective addresses. |
| Cleveland Police said domestic incidents involving Bennett and both women had previously been reported. | Cleveland Police said domestic incidents involving Bennett and both women had previously been reported. |
| Tim Roberts QC, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty to the murders at the first reasonable opportunity. | Tim Roberts QC, defending, said his client had pleaded guilty to the murders at the first reasonable opportunity. |
| Bennett had a mental illness, he said, but it was not severe enough to allow him to claim a defence of diminished responsibility. | Bennett had a mental illness, he said, but it was not severe enough to allow him to claim a defence of diminished responsibility. |
| Mr Roberts added: "He has not had the normal capacity of self-restraint which a healthy individual would possess." | Mr Roberts added: "He has not had the normal capacity of self-restraint which a healthy individual would possess." |
| Judge Simon Bourne-Arton said Bennett had sent him a "self-pitying" letter in which he claimed he still loved both women and had made a "monumental mistake". | |
| However, he told Bennett: "There was no mistake about it, it was quite deliberate by you." | |
| He sentenced him to two life sentences and said he must serve a minimum term of 32 years and 233 days before he will be considered eligible for parole. |