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[/FONT][FONT=&]Redcar man sentenced to life for double murder
28/07/2016
A Redcar man has been given a life sentence after killing his partner and an ex-partner, who was also the mother of his children, within an hour of each other.
Alan Bennett, 34, of Lingholme in Redcar, pleaded guilty at Teesside Crown Court today to two counts of murder relating to the deaths of his partner Lynne Freeman, 46, and his ex-partner Jodie Betteridge, 30.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment of which he must serve a minimum term of 32 years and 233 days.
In March this year, Mr Bennett contacted police to say that his partner had been stabbed in the neck and asked that ambulance attend an address in Mapleton Crescent, Redcar. Attending the scene, police found the body of Lynne Freeman, Alan Bennett's partner.
Within minutes of this call, police responded to reports of another woman being violently attacked a short distance away in Byland Close. At the scene the police found Alan Bennett, who had delivered multiple stab wounds to Jodie Betteridge on a grassed area near her home, in full view of their three young children and neighbours.
Lynsey Colling, District Crown Prosecutor for CPS North East said: "Despite Alan Bennett's pleas to both murders today, we may never fully understand what motivated him to kill Lynne Freeman and Jodie Betteridge.
"Alan Bennett has offered no explanation for his actions and, until today's pleas, had taken no responsibility for his actions.
"I sincerely hope that the sentence passed today provides a measure of comfort to those who loved Lynne and Jodie, all of whom have endured devastating losses under truly horrific circumstances.
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[FONT=&]"I would also like to praise the professionalism of the emergency services staff who attended the scene in Byland Close. They swiftly took control of the chaotic scene at which they arrived, securing key evidence that has been instrumental in building a robust case against Alan Bennett."[/FONT]