Double Life Sentence for Killer Who Attacked Inmate with Claw Hammer
A convicted murderer already serving a whole life sentence has been locked up for life again after trying to kill a fellow prisoner with a claw hammer.
Damien Bendall’s Brutal Prison Attack
Damien Bendall, 37, was handed a rare whole life order in December 2022 for the horrific murder of his pregnant partner, Terri Harris, 35, and three children at their Derbyshire home in 2021. Bendall bludgeoned them to death during a sleepover and even raped one of the victims as she died.
But behind bars at HMP Frankland, County Durham, Bendall launched a savage, unprovoked assault on inmate Michael Mullaney. Armed with a hidden claw hammer, Bendall struck Mullaney three or four times during a prison workshop, leaving the victim fighting for his life.
More Jail Time with No Chance of Freedom
At Teesside Crown Court in May 2024, Bendall was sentenced to life with a minimum of 15 years for attempted murder. Judge Francis Laird KC described the attack as “ferocious” and “unprovoked,” highlighting that Bendall struck from behind with a concealed weapon.
With this fresh sentence added, Bendall remains locked away for life—making release impossible.
