For the fifth Christmas in a row, Jason Bennett will not call his children downstairs to open presents. Instead, he will approach his mantelpiece, where a cherished photograph has replaced the traditional offerings of carrots and milk for Santa's reindeer.
A Father's Unimaginable Loss
Jason will tenderly kiss the picture of his daughter, Lacey, and son, John-Paul, repeating a daily ritual that began after they were brutally taken from him. On the evening of 18 September 2021, Damien Bendall murdered his pregnant partner, Terri Harris, and three children at a house in Killamarsh.
Bendall used a claw hammer to bludgeon Terri, her 11-year-old daughter Lacey Bennett, her 13-year-old son John-Paul Bennett, and Lacey's 11-year-old friend Connie Gent, who was staying for a sleepover. All four were pronounced dead at the scene.
The court later heard that Bendall's depravity did not end with murder. He sexually assaulted Lacey as she lay dying and violated her body a second time afterwards. He then fled the scene to trade John-Paul's Xbox for drugs in Sheffield.
Enduring the "Unthinkable" Each Christmas
Jason has spoken of how the festive season, a time he once adored, now triggers a cascade of painful memories. He finds himself repeatedly replaying his last phone call with his children, which took place the night before they were killed.
"I was on holiday down in Devon," Jason recalled. "The evening before, I missed my daughter's video call, but I rang her back, and I am so glad I did. Lacey showed me that she and Connie had set up a stall, selling sweets to raise money for charity, and John had looked so proud of what they had done."
The morning after the murders, Jason saw a photo of Terri's house on social media. His frantic calls went unanswered. By 7pm, as he stared at a pixelated image of a white police tent covering the home, he received the devastating call that brought him "crumpling" to his knees.
"The first Christmas without them - because of all the pain and investigations - meant nothing to me," Jason confessed. "I couldn't stop thinking about them; what I would have gotten them as presents or what games we would have played. I just wanted to die."
Finding a New Normal and a Legacy of Hope
Christmas, which was "everything" to Jason, died with his children. He cherished cooking the festive meal and buying presents they could all enjoy together. In the aftermath, he withdrew from life, unable to work or find any reason to live.
Supported by "amazing people," Jason has slowly forged a path forward in honour of his "wonderful" children. He has returned to work and finds solace in his rituals, like kissing their now-tattered photograph. Around Christmas, which is also near John-Paul's birthday, the family lays flowers where the children's funeral was held.
Inspired by their final conversation, Jason has dedicated himself to fundraising for the Youth Cancer Trust in Dorset – the very charity Lacey and Connie were supporting. His efforts, including charity football matches at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium, have now raised over £78,000.
Jason describes his children with deep love. Lacey was "so polite and kind," while John-Paul pretended to be "fiery" but was "loving and sensitive" at heart. He holds onto the warmth of the Christmases they shared.
"I was - and still am - truly the luckiest father on earth to have had them," he said with heartfelt sincerity.
Damien Bendall was sentenced to a whole-life order after pleading guilty to the four murders and the rape of Lacey Bennett, meaning he will never be released from prison.
