Lola James killer Kyle Bevan stabbed more than 25 times in high-security jail as notorious inmates found guilty of murder

HAVERFORDWEST child killer Kyle Bevan has been murdered by three of Britain’s most dangerous prisoners in a brutal prison attack that has once again thrust the tragic death of two-year-old Lola James into the national spotlight.

Bevan, 33, was serving a life sentence for murdering Lola at her home in Princess Royal Way, Haverfordwest, when he was ambushed inside his cell at HMP Wakefield.

On Thursday (Jun 18), a jury at Leeds Crown Court found Mark Fellows, 45, Lee Newell, 57, and David Taylor, 63, guilty of murder following a trial that heard how Bevan was stabbed and slashed more than 25 times during a frenzied attack lasting less than five minutes.

The court heard that Bevan suffered catastrophic injuries, including a punctured heart, a severed jugular vein and a slashed aorta. One blow was so powerful that the weapon cut through bone.

After killing him, the three men arranged his body to make it appear that he was asleep in bed. Prison officers did not discover his body until the following morning.

The jury took around two hours to convict all three men.

Remembering Lola

For many people in Pembrokeshire, news of Bevan’s death has reopened memories of one of the county’s most shocking and heartbreaking crimes.

Lola James was just two years old when she died following a sustained and savage assault in July 2020.

During Bevan’s trial, jurors heard that the toddler suffered 101 separate injuries.

Medical experts compared one of the catastrophic head injuries she received to the sort of trauma normally seen in a high-speed road traffic collision involving a child.

The court heard that Bevan repeatedly assaulted the youngster while caring for her at the family home.

Afterwards, he attempted to blame the family dog, claiming Lola had been pushed down a staircase.

A jury rejected his account.

In 2023, Bevan was convicted of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. He was ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years before becoming eligible for parole.

Lola’s mother, Sinead James, was jailed for six years after being convicted of causing or allowing the death of a child.

A county left devastated

The Herald’s coverage of Lola’s death generated one of the largest public responses ever seen to a criminal case in Pembrokeshire.

Thousands followed developments through the investigation, trial and sentencing.

At the time, readers expressed profound sadness for Lola and anger that opportunities to protect her had been missed.

Many local residents described the case as one that had shaken the county to its core.

While reaction to Bevan’s death has been mixed, many people have pointed out that the real victim remains Lola herself.

Social media discussions following news of the prison murder have largely focused on remembering the little girl whose life was cut short rather than the man convicted of killing her.

Others have questioned whether Bevan’s death serves any purpose, arguing that it cannot undo the suffering inflicted upon Lola or bring comfort to those who loved her.

Questions over safeguarding failures

Lola’s death led to extensive scrutiny of agencies responsible for protecting vulnerable children.

A subsequent Child Practice Review identified a number of missed opportunities and systemic failings.

The review highlighted concerns over information sharing, risk assessment and the pressures facing frontline services.

The findings prompted calls for improvements across agencies involved in child protection.

For many readers, those concerns remain just as relevant today as they were when the report was first published.

The men who killed Bevan

The three men convicted of Bevan’s murder were already among the most feared prisoners in the country.

Mark Fellows, known as “The Iceman” and “Wakefield Dexter”, was serving a whole-life sentence for two gangland assassinations in the north west of England.

Lee Newell had previously murdered another child killer inside prison.

David Taylor, a convicted armed robber and violent career criminal, was awaiting trial for another murder when he took part in the attack.

The trial heard that Bevan was viewed as a target because of the nature of his crimes.

Like many prisoners convicted of offences against children, he was classed as a vulnerable prisoner and spent much of his time isolated from the wider prison population.

Wakefield under scrutiny again

The killing has renewed questions about conditions inside HMP Wakefield, one of Britain’s most secure prisons.

Known unofficially as “Monster Mansion”, the Category A prison houses some of the country’s most dangerous offenders.

Bevan’s murder came only weeks after another notorious inmate, former Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins, was killed in the same prison.

The court heard evidence of tensions between vulnerable prisoners and mainstream inmates, creating what prosecutors described as a distorted hierarchy among offenders.

During the trial, the judge warned jurors not to allow their feelings about Bevan’s crimes to influence their verdicts.

Mrs Justice McGowan said: “Nobody has a right to kill anyone else because they disapprove of what they have done, or because they hate them.

“It is a fairly basic premise in a civilised society.”

Those words may prove uncomfortable for some, given the nature of Bevan’s crimes.

But they underline a principle at the heart of the justice system: that punishment is imposed by the courts, not by fellow prisoners.

For Pembrokeshire, however, the lasting focus remains not on the violent death of Kyle Bevan, but on the loss of a little girl whose murder shocked a community and whose memory continues to resonate across the county.

Major delays leave pupils stranded, buses running late and traffic backed up across the town after morning collision

ONE person was taken to hospital after a two-vehicle crash caused widespread disruption in Haverfordwest during the morning school run.

Dyfed-Powys Police said officers were called to the collision on the A4076 Freeman’s Way at around 7:10am on Thursday (June 18).

The road was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident, leading to long tailbacks on routes into town.

Many children were late for school, with some school buses arriving after 10:00am. Some pupils being dropped off at Haverfordwest Bus Station for the St Davids school bus are also understood to have missed their connection.

Police said one person was taken to hospital to be checked over following the collision.

The road reopened shortly before 10:30am.

A 22-year-old woman remains in hospital after two-vehicle collision

A MOTORCYCLIST has died following a serious two-vehicle crash on the A4075 between Canaston Bridge and Yerbeston.

Dyfed-Powys Police said the collision happened at around 6:20pm on Wednesday (June 17) and involved a grey Kia Sorento and a white Yamaha motorcycle.

The rider of the motorcycle, a 22-year-old man, died at the scene.

A 22-year-old woman who was travelling as a pillion passenger was taken to hospital, where she remains.

Police said the rider’s next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.

The driver of the Kia Sorento, a 60-year-old man, was not injured.

Road remains closed

The A4075 remained closed while collision investigators examined the scene, and motorists were advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes.

Investigating officers are appealing for witnesses and would like to speak to anyone who was travelling along the A4075 at the relevant time.

They are also asking motorists with dashcam footage from the area to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected], by direct message on social media, or by calling 101.

Please quote reference 362 of June 17.