THE brutal murder of Jodie Betteridge in front of her three helpless, young children has devastated her entire family.

Marina Griffiths told the court of her heartbreak of losing her beloved daughter in such a cruel and violent way at the hands of a man who had a history of domestic abuse against the 30-year-old mother-of-three.

Alan Bennett jailed for 32 years for frenzied knife murders of Lynne Freeman and Jodie Betteridge in Redcar

In a victim impact statement she told the court how her daughter death had turned her world upside down.

She said: "My daughter Jodie had three young children who have lost their mother and when I found out that they saw their own father kill their mum this destroyed me even more. Those children were innocent and they should never have seen what happened that night.

"I was told that Jodie had been stabbed repeatedly so when it came to identifying her at the hospital I knew I had to do it. I couldn’t let my other daughter Nicky see Jodie in that way as they were best friends and I knew that being her mother meant it was my responsibility. When I arrived at the hospital to see Jodie I kept hoping that it wouldn’t be her as I was still in denial.

"As the curtains opened I felt my life drain away and felt numb. I wanted to hold her, stroke her hair and kiss her. I wanted to make her better but I couldn’t. I wanted Jodie to open her eyes and to talk to me. I looked at her face and it was still my beautiful daughter laid there however every night I have nightmares about seeing her in the hospital and when I am alone I always picture her laid there injured and think about what pain she must have gone through.

"I spend each day crying and most days I just don’t want to wake up because I miss her so much. Each day I feel empty and I just wish that she would ring me like she used to."

Jodie Betteridge had been a victim of domestic abuse and controlling behaviour at the hands of Bennett throughout their nine year relationship.

The young mother was just starting to get her life back on track when it was so cruelly ended in a devastatingly brutal attack.

A statement from her family was read out after the court hearing, they said: "It is difficult to put it into words the massive loss that we feel as Jodie was a wonderful daughter, sister, cousin, mother and friend. To find out that Jodie was killed by Alan in front of their three young children makes this harder to comprehend and we can’t imagine the pain that she must have gone through.

"Jodie was kind to everyone; she lived for her children as they were the most important people in her life and now she won’t be able to see them grow up. Jodie will never be forgotten and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

"We have received great support during this difficult time from so many people and are grateful to anyone who assisted the police with the investigation.

"Nothing will take the pain away from losing Jodie but it is a comfort to know that justice has been served."