Sheffield and South Yorkshire child-killers who have been put behind bars

Following the ‘truly horrifying’ and ‘grotesque’ baby-shaking death of Hunter Mathias at the hands of his father Leon Mathias, The Star has been looking back at the region’s most notorious child-killers.

By Jon Cooper

Published 6th Feb 2023, 04:45 GMT

Sheffield Crown Court heard on February 2 how Leon Mathias, aged 34, of Stonebridge Lane, in Great Houghton, Barnsley, who was found guilty of murdering his nine-week-old baby son Hunter, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years before he can be considered for release.

After the judge – Mrs Justice Christina Lambert – said Hunter’s fatal head injury had been caused by shaking and she described Mathias’ behaviour as ‘truly horrifying’ and ‘grotesque’, The Star has been reflecting on the region’s most notorious child-killers who have been brought to justice.

Shocking cases include: a hammer-wielding killer who murdered his partner, her two children and one of their young friends; a man who murdered his partner’s toddler; and a killer couple who murdered two of their children in Sheffield.

Pictured are some of the region's convicted child-killers who have been put behind bars.

1. Some of the region's convicted child-killers who have been put behind bars

Pictured are some of the region's convicted child-killers who have been put behind bars. Photo: SYP

Sheffield Crown Court heard on February 2 how Leon Mathias, aged 34, of Stonebridge Lane, in Great Houghton, Barnsley, pictured, who was found guilty of murdering his nine-week-old baby son Hunter was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years before he can be considered for release.
The judge – Mrs Justice Christina Lambert – said Hunter’s fatal head injury had been caused by shaking during a lapse of temper by Mathias and she described his behaviour as ‘truly horrifying’ and 'grotesque'.

2. Leon Mathias

Sheffield Crown Court heard on February 2 how Leon Mathias, aged 34, of Stonebridge Lane, in Great Houghton, Barnsley, pictured, who was found guilty of murdering his nine-week-old baby son Hunter was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 16 years before he can be considered for release. The judge – Mrs Justice Christina Lambert – said Hunter’s fatal head injury had been caused by shaking during a lapse of temper by Mathias and she described his behaviour as ‘truly horrifying’ and 'grotesque'. Photo: SYP

Hammer-wielding killer Damien Bendall, pictured, admitted murdering his partner, her two children and one of their young friends before he was sentenced to a whole-life term of imprisonment. Derby Crown Court heard on December 21 how Bendall, aged 32, pleaded guilty to murdering his partner Terri Harris, her children John Paul Bennett and Lacey Bennett and Lacey’s friend, Connie Gent, after an horrific incident at their shared home on Chandos Cresent, in Killamarsh, in September, 2021. Bendall also admitted raping 11-year-old Lacey during the rampage.

3. Damien Bendall

Hammer-wielding killer Damien Bendall, pictured, admitted murdering his partner, her two children and one of their young friends before he was sentenced to a whole-life term of imprisonment. Derby Crown Court heard on December 21 how Bendall, aged 32, pleaded guilty to murdering his partner Terri Harris, her children John Paul Bennett and Lacey Bennett and Lacey’s friend, Connie Gent, after an horrific incident at their shared home on Chandos Cresent, in Killamarsh, in September, 2021. Bendall also admitted raping 11-year-old Lacey during the rampage. Photo: SYP

Child-killer Martin Currie, pictured, who murdered his partner's two-year-old son Keigan O'Brien was jailed for life and Currie's partner Sarah O'Brien was sentenced to eight years of custody for allowing the death of the toddler. Currie, aged 36 at the time of sentencing in November, 2020, was of no fixed abode, and was found guilty of murdering Keigan O'Brien, and Sarah O’Brien, aged 33 at the time, of Bosworth Road, Doncaster, was found guilty of allowing the death of her son. Both were also found guilty of cruelty to a child between July, 2019, and January, 2020. Jason Pitter QC, prosecuting, said Keigan had suffered a brain bleed, possibly from having his head hit against a wall or the floor, and over the previous weeks he had suffered a broken spine, broken ribs and a broken arm due to twisting.

4. Martin Currie

Child-killer Martin Currie, pictured, who murdered his partner's two-year-old son Keigan O'Brien was jailed for life and Currie's partner Sarah O'Brien was sentenced to eight years of custody for allowing the death of the toddler. Currie, aged 36 at the time of sentencing in November, 2020, was of no fixed abode, and was found guilty of murdering Keigan O'Brien, and Sarah O’Brien, aged 33 at the time, of Bosworth Road, Doncaster, was found guilty of allowing the death of her son. Both were also found guilty of cruelty to a child between July, 2019, and January, 2020. Jason Pitter QC, prosecuting, said Keigan had suffered a brain bleed, possibly from having his head hit against a wall or the floor, and over the previous weeks he had suffered a broken spine, broken ribs and a broken arm due to twisting. Photo: SYP