Four jailed over fatal stabbing of Denva Smith, 24

6 minutes ago

News image — Denva Smith died at the scene after being found with a single stab wound

Devon and Cornwall Police Photo of stabbing victim Denva Smith. He is looking stoney-faced with gelled up hair. He is wearing a black jumper. — Denva Smith died at the scene after being found with a single stab wound

Four men have been jailed over the fatal stabbing of a man.

Denva Smith, 24, died in Ashfield Close, Exmouth, Devon in May 2025, Exeter Crown Court heard. The four, convicted in March, were sentenced to a combined total of more than 70 years in prison.

Thomas Ward, 25, from Exeter, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 23 years for murder; and Ben Mason, 24, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 23 years and six months for murder.

Zac Davies, 24, from Exmouth, was sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter and a year for withholding access to his mobile phone from police. Dylan Chadwick, 24, from Merseyside, was sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter.

Mason was also sentenced to three years in prison for a separate previous offence of grievous bodily harm with intent, to run concurrently.

Time spent in custody is due to count towards their sentences.

A fifth man, Ben Helliker, 27, from Halsdon Road, Exmouth, convicted of manslaughter is due to sentenced at a later date.

Devon and Cornwall Police Police mugshots of Thomas Ward and Ben Mason. Both are men in their mid-20s with brown hair and short beards. — Thomas Ward and Ben Mason were both sentenced to life in prison for murder

The court heard Smith had been chased and stabbed and he died in the garden of a property after suffering a single stab wound on 31 May 2025.

The attack was motivated by revenge for a previous attack on Mason, it was told.

Before sentencing, the judge, the Honourable Mr Justice Neil Garnham, had described the killers as "idiotic young men".

In a statement, Smith's mother Julie Smith said the violence would "stay with me forever" and it was "deeply traumatic and something I cannot escape".

She said: "He was not just a victim - he was someone's son. He was loved."

Mrs Smith said she looked at photos of her son every day and "I feel ruined and destroyed by what has happened".

Devon and Cornwall Police Police mugshots of Zac Davies and Dylan Chadwick, who are both men in their mid-20s. Davies has light brown curly hair and a beard. Chadwick has short brown hair. — Zac Davies and Dylan Chadwick were both sentenced to 12 years for manslaughter

She said she had had a heart attack last June, which highlighted the physical toll of the loss which "overwhelmed" her at times.

She said: "The impact of losing my son will never go away."

In mitigation, the court heard Mason had come from a "disadvantaged background" with a "chequered family upbringing" and had been expelled from school aged 10.

Ward, of Russell Walk, Exeter, was described as having an "extremely difficult background" and had been in care.

The court heard Chadwick, of Cambourne Avenue, St Helens, believed the incident would be "a fist fight" and there had been "extraordinarily bad decision-making".

Davies, from Hawthorn Grove, Exmouth, had had "significant remorse" and no previous convictions, it was also told.

The judge said he was awarding seven commendations to police officers and staff for their work on the case.

Andrew Smith, a man who went to help Denva Smith when he was injured, was praised for his "bravery and humanity".

After sentencing, Det Inspector Guy Biggar, from the Devon and Cornwall Police major crime investigation team, said: "No amount of ill-feeling between Denva and those convicted can justify the taking of a young life in such a violent and brutal manner."