'I'm broken': Mother, two children, another child sleeping over found dead in UK home

Siblings John Paul (left) and Lacey (right) have been described as "beautiful" children by their dad.
Siblings John Paul (left) and Lacey (right) have been described as "beautiful" children by their dad. Photo credit: Jason Bennett/Facebook

The father of two children killed in the UK county of Derbyshire along with their mum on Sunday says his kids were "beautiful" and life would "never be the same".

Three children, siblings John Paul (13) and Lacey (11) and Connie Gent (11) were found dead after 7:25am on Sunday (local time). Connie was a friend of Lacey's believed to be sleeping over at the house.

John Paul and Lacey's mother, 35-year-old Terri Harris, was also killed.

Derbyshire police said a 31-year-old man has been arrested for their alleged murder. He was said to be known to the family. 

"While understandably worrying and upsetting, this is believed to be an isolated incident in which those involved were known to one another and nobody else is being sought in connection with the deaths," Derbyshire Chief Const Rachel Swann said, as reported by the BBC.

John Paul and Lacey's dad Jason Bennett told Sky News he was "broken". 

"I didn't protect my beautiful babies enough from the monsters and now they have been suddenly taken away from me.

"I'm broken, I just want to kiss my babies."

He said his children were the most good-natured people "you could ever meet".

"Life will never be the same," Bennett wrote on Facebook. "I love you both more than anything."

The MP for North East Derbyshire, Lee Rowley, said on Twitter locals were shocked and worried by the incident.

"This is believed to be an isolated incident with an arrest having been made. I've no doubt that the village will pull together at this difficult time."