Fifth man jailed over fatal seaside stabbing

A fifth man has been jailed for manslaughter after a young man was stabbed and chased by a gang in Exmouth.

Ben Helliker, 27, of Halsdon Road, Exmouth, was convicted at an earlier hearing of the manslaughter of 24-year-old Denva Smith in May 2025, and was jailed on Monday for 10 years in prison.

Sentencing him at Exeter Crown Court judge, Mr Justice Garnham said bricklayer Helliker got involved in the incident as "a latecomer at the 11th hour".

Helliker is the last of five men to be jailed for a total of 80 years for the part they played in the death of Smith, who lay bleeding to death in a neighbour's garden after he was attacked while walking his dog late one night.

Sentencing father-of-two Helliker, the judge said victim Smith was "no angel and had a long history of criminal convictions", but that Smith's mother described how his death has caused "utter misery" and his family were "grievously affected by his senseless killing".

The court heard Smith was walking his dog with a friend when the attack happened, motivated by revenge for a previous assault on one of the killers.

Mr Smith was stabbed once in the arm and he tried to run away from the gang but ended up in a resident's garden where he lay bleeding to death.

The judge said the killers were "idiotic young men".

In June, the court jailed Thomas Ward, 25, from Exeter, who stabbed Mr Smith, for life for murder and with a minimum tariff of 23 years.

Ben Mason, 24, of no fixed abode, was also found guilty of murder and jailed for life and told he will serve 23 years and six months behind bars.

Zac Davies, 24, from Exmouth, and Dylan Chadwick, 24, from St Helens, Merseyside, were convicted of manslaughter and each jailed for 12 years.

Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk.