Damien Bendall, 36, only stopped the vicious attack when a prison officer drew their baton.

10:42, Tue, Feb 24, 2026 Updated: 10:42, Tue, Feb 24, 2026

Damien Bendall

Damien Bendall, 36, was sentenced for the attempted murder of Michael Mullan (Image: Derbyshire Police)

A man serving life for murdering his pregnant girlfriend and three children during a sleepover has been handed another life sentence for a hammer attack on a fellow inmate in prison. Damien Bendall, 36, was sentenced at Teesside Crown Court for the attempted murder of Michael Mullaney at HMP Frankland, Durham, after smashing him four times in the head with a claw hammer without warning.

The court heard Bendall's first blow was to the back of his head, causing Mr Mullaney to slump unconscious to the floor before he was hit three more times. He had used a claw hammer in the horrific killings in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, in 2021.

Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said the prison attack in a workshop in May 2024 was so severe a prison officer believed the victim could be dead.

Bendall only stopped his vicious attack when the officer drew his baton and sounded an alarm.

Mr Perks said: "The defendant immediately threw his hammer to one side and put his arms out to show he had stopped his assault on Mr Mullaney."

After handcuffing him, officers asked Bendall why he had attacked his friend, who sometimes played dominoes with him. Mr Perks said: "The defendant responded 'I don't know'."

His victim spent four nights in the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, where he was treated for depressed skull fractures and bleeding on the brain.

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Terri Harris and her daughter Lacey and son John

Bendall murdered Terri Harris, her daughter Lacey, son John Paul (pictured) and Connie Gent (Image: Angela Smith/SWNS)

The court heard the severity of the blows could have proved fatal. Bendall, in a blue T-shirt and with a shaved head, watched the proceedings via a videolink from HMP Wakefield.

Mr Mullaney said in a victim impact statement that the attack had left him anxious, reluctant to leave his cell and struggling to sleep.

Vanessa Marshall KC, defending, said Bendall planned the attack to engineer a move to a segregation unit because he was concerned his mental state was deteriorating.

She said Bendall wanted to apologise to the victim, saying: "He held no contempt for Mr Mullaney, despite what he did. There is evidence that they were friends and he wanted to convey his regrets and apologies."

Connie Gent

Evil killer Bendall murdered 11-year-old Connie Gent (Image: Family handout/Derbyshire Police)

Judge Francis Laird KC said the sentence was life with a minimum term of 15 years, but Bendall will never be released in any event.

He said the attempted murder was aggravated because it happened in prison and due to his "previous convictions for the most serious violent and sexual offences".

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Bendall murdered pregnant Terri Harris, 35, her children - Lacey, 11, and John Paul, 13 - along with Lacey's friend, Connie Gent, 11, in Chandos Crescent, Killamarsh, Derbyshire, on September 19 2021. He was given a whole-life order in December 2022.

He used a claw hammer to carry out the prolonged attacks at the home he shared with Ms Harris. The evil brute also admitted to raping Lacey as she was dying.