A fifth man has been imprisoned for his role in the fatal assault of 24‑year‑old Denva Smith in Exmouth. Ben Helliker, the last defendant to be dealt with at Exeter Crown Court, was given a 10‑year sentence after being found guilty of manslaughter.
Details of the attack
The incident occurred in the early hours of 31 May 2025 when Mr Smith was confronted by a group of five men while walking along Dinan Way. He ran from the group and was chased. One of the men, Thomas Ward, inflicted a wound that severed a major artery in Mr Smith's forearm. Mr Smith collapsed in Ashfield Close and later died from blood loss despite the efforts of paramedics.
"There was a degree of planning. It was a group attack of five on one."
At sentencing, Mr Justice Garnham said Helliker had been aware of a plan to cause harm and that the attack had not been spontaneous. Although Helliker did not deliver the fatal knife wound, the judge concluded he played an active role in the confrontation.
Sentences for the group
The trial that examined the events at Exeter lasted eight weeks and resulted in a mixture of murder and manslaughter convictions for the five men:
- Thomas Ward, 25, of Russell Walk, Exeter – convicted of murder and sentenced to a life term with a minimum of 23 years.
- Ben Mason, 24, no fixed address – convicted of murder and sentenced to 22 years.
- Zac Davies, 24, of Hawthorn Grove, Exmouth – convicted of manslaughter and given 13 years.
- Dylan Chadwick, 24, of Cambourne Avenue, St Helens – convicted of manslaughter and given 12 years.
- Ben Helliker, of Halsdon Road – convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years.
| Defendant | Conviction | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Ward | Murder | Life (min. 23 years) |
| Ben Mason | Murder | 22 years |
| Zac Davies | Manslaughter | 13 years |
| Dylan Chadwick | Manslaughter | 12 years |
| Ben Helliker | Manslaughter | 10 years |
Defence and court observations
During mitigation, counsel for Helliker argued he joined the others late and was unaware that one member was carrying a knife. The lawyer suggested Helliker would not have taken part had he known a weapon was present. The judge, however, determined Helliker knew of a plan to cause harm and therefore imposed a significant custodial term.
The case has drawn attention locally because of the nature of the attack — described in court as a concentrated assault by several people on a single victim — and because residents in the area reported hearing Mr Smith's cries for help as he sought assistance.
The sentences bring to a close the trial process in Exeter but leave wider questions for the community about youth violence, knife crime and local policing that others may seek to address.
