32 YEARS FOR BEAST IN DOUBLE MURDER
He stabs ex-lover and girlfriend
A BRUTAL dad stabbed his ex-partner 132 times in front of their children just seven minutes after murdering his girlfriend.
Alan Bennett, 34, plunged a kitchen knife into first victim Lynne Freeman’s neck as she sat on the sofa.
He stabbed 46-year-old Lynne 13 times then dialled 999 and told the emergency services they were needed at her bungalow in Redcar, North Yorks.
As he made the call he walked to the nearby home of his former girlfriend Jodie Betteridge, 30.
When she answered the door he began stabbing her. Jodie fled into the garden but Bennett caught her and stabbed her so hard he broke the 10-inch knife.
He sat astride her and used the broken blade to disfigure her face, watched by their three screaming children aged four, six and nine.
When police arrived the blood-covered killer told them: “I have done what had to be done.’’
Yesterday Bennett was ordered to serve at least 32 years behind bars when he was jailed for life after admitting the two murders on March 23. Teesside Crown Court heard he had a history of violence against both women.
Before his attacks he hurled Lynne to the ground while out drinking.
He yelled at a friend who objected to his behaviour: “I have lost my kids. I am not allowed to see them. I will f***ing kill her.’’
The rant was against Jodie, whom he blamed for being allowed only supervised access to their children.
The court heard the real reason was his violence.