THE family of murdered Flintshire 31-year-old Dean Michael Bennett have said that "life will never be the same" without their loving "uncle, brother and father".

Victim impact statements were read out in Mold Crown Court as Mr Bennett's murderer, 47-year-old Emma Berry, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years on Tuesday, December 7.

Prosecutor Matthew Corbett-Jones read out the statements, prepared by Mr Bennett's brother Dirk Bennett, and Lucy Morris, the mother of Mr Bennett's daughter.

Ms Morris said Mr Bennett was "an amazing dad" to their daughter, who was "a real daddy's girl" and they were "inseparable", and would always know exactly what to do.

Ms Morris said she was "completely heartbroken" and "could not understand what has happened". She added she was not the same mum she used to be.

Dirk Bennett said Dean was: "an uncle, a brother and most importantly a dad."

He said his whole world has been turned upside down since the events of May 22, when Dean Michael Bennett was fatally stabbed in the chest by Berry in his own room at Old Quay House, Connah's Quay.

Dirk Bennett said he "will never fully recover" and his brother "had his whole life ahead of him, [but] had it taken away from him".

He added the thought of Dean Bennett's final memories being scared and in pain will haunt him and his family forever, and that life would be quiet without him.

He added: "We are heartbroken."

The court heard Dean Michael Bennett had overcome addiction issues in the past and had found employment working for the council in a gardening role, something which he loved doing.

On May 22, he had gone to the Hare & Hounds pub in Connah's Quay, telling people he wanted to move away from Old Quay House as there was a "group of idiots" who had no respect for people's food and property.

He said it would be "futile" in putting a lock on his door as people would just smash the door in instead. He added: "I can't go back there."

But sadly, Mr Bennett returned to Old Quay House – a home of multiple occupation – where Emma Berry, who was heavily intoxicated, later murdered him.

Judge Rhys Rowlands extended the court's sympathies to the families of Mr Bennett, who had also shown "great restraint and forbearance" over the past couple of days in court, after Berry changed her plea to guilty on the day the trial was due to begin.