Chelsea townhouse where financier John Monckton was tragically murdered by “666 Devil’s Child” Damien Hanson in 2004 for sale for sum 18% lower than it was offered for in 2013; it is situated opposite a church where a bomb in 1940 killed 19 people
Sadly, however, behind the gate of this Old Chelsea residence, on Monday 29th November 2004 at 7.30pm in the evening, a “well-respected” 49-year-old financier named John Monckton was murdered and his wife, Homeyra, severely assaulted also in front of their nine-year-old daughter.
Attacked by two clearly deranged thugs, Damien Hanson – who was tellingly nicknamed “666 Devil’s Child” – and Elliot White, posed as postmen to “trick” their way into the house, the Downside and Oxford educated managing director of bonds at Legal and General Investment Management was repeatedly stabbed whilst his wife sustained injuries that “partly paralysed” her.
Saved by the quick-thinking actions of her daughter Isobel, who had hidden on an upper floor of the residence and who then called 999, Old Bailey judge The Hon. Mr Justice Calvert-Smith later told Hanson: “Without her prompt action Mrs Monckton would have died and you would have faced two charges of murder.”
In a statement subsequently, the Monckton family remarked of “an incredibly gentle and thoughtful man” whom “apart from his outstanding career in the City, also devoted a great deal of his time to charitable works.” Speaking to The Guardian, the now 12th Duke of Marlborough added: “It’s very out of character. SW3, and especially this area, is a very good address. It’s quiet, which I suppose is its worst offence.”
At trial in February 2006, where Hanson’s lawyer Michael Wolkind QC “said he could offer no mitigation except that some murderers were even greater monsters,” it was revealed that the killer had “kept an arsenal of knives under his bed at a children’s care home and funded his lifestyle through muggings and drug dealing.” Shockingly, he had been given early release from jail despite a parole board assessment that he had a 91% chance of reoffending whilst White was on bail on drug charges at the time of the killing.
Of him, an “ex-friend” added: “Damien was never an angel but he found an identity through hip-hop and gangsta culture. It corrupted him and fuelled an obsession with violence, guns, knives, gold and diamonds – anything luxury.”
In another development, in November 2006, Hanson’s sister, Laura Campbell, was sent down for four years for giving him a false alibi in which she claimed he had been watching EastEnders with her at a friend’s flat on the night of the murder. The clearly equally deviant then 20-year-old had even penned notes that “had the appearance of prompt cards, which would remind her of the story she would have to tell,” shared prosecutor Parmjit Cheema.
There is off-street parking for one car and a courtyard garden and since the brutal events there in November 2004, the property has had significant security measures installed.
April 2022 – Offered for sale for £4.5 million ($5.8 million, €5.4 million or درهم21.2 million) by agents The London Broker, a sum % lower than its April 2013 marketing price.
April 2013 – Offered for sale for £5.5 million ($7.1 million, €6.5 million or درهم25.9 million) by W. A. Ellis.
29th November 2004 – John Monckton (born 13th October 1955) murdered at the house. His killer Damien Hanson was subsequently sentenced to serve three life sentences for killing him and the attempted murder of his Homeyra Monckton.
His associate, Elliot White, received a sentence of 18 years for manslaughter, wounding with intent and robbery whilst the trial judge recommended that Hanson should serve a minimum of 36 years before being considered for parole.
Victim John Monckton (right), the scene in the aftermath of the murder (centre) and widow Homeyra Monckton (right). The podcast ‘Murder Mile’ – which reported on the tragic events of 29th November 2004 in May 2021 – “With two violent and dangerous men in his home, who would stop at nothing to get what they wanted, although he wasn’t a fighter, John would do anything to protect them… even if it meant his life. With his face beaten, as Elliot gripped him from behind in an immovable bear-hug, John’s fight to force both men out of his home and away from his family was failing. And yet it was then – without warning – that the Devil’s Child lashed out in a volley of frenzied stabs against an unarmed outnumbered man. John’s hands were slashed and bloodied as he valiantly fought off his attacker; as the stained six-inch blade sunk into his shoulder, his right arm and his pelvis. So ferocious was this assault, that having mistakenly stabbed Elliot, with the full length of the blade he buried the knife deep in John’s chest, as one wound ripped through his right lung, and the last, fatally skewered though this good man’s heart. John slumped to the floor in the doorway of his lounge, and as the robbers fled up Glebe Place, Elliot whooped ‘ah man, you’re the business’ and Damian giddily fingered his haul of a few hundred pounds and some inexpensive costume jewellery, as the two cowards left John and Homeyra to die… which they would have done, had it not been for Isobel, who was only nine-years-old. Doing as her mother said, Isobel locked the door, called the police and set off the panic alarm, alerting the street. Sat amongst the blood-spattered room, with Homeyra feeling weak, pale and partially paralysed, there was no denying that the quick-thinking of this little girl had saved her mother’s life. But with John lying motionless, his eyes closed and his moans barely a whisper, even the paramedics couldn’t save him.”Convicted criminals Damien Hanson and Elliot White. The former has now been in jail for 16 years whilst the current situation of the latter – who was sentenced to 18 years – is unknown. Of the murderer’s term, Wikipedia remark: “This is one of the lengthiest minimum terms ever handed out in British legal history, and is expected to keep Hanson behind bars until at least 2041 and the age of 61.”
In May 2021, ‘Murder Mile’ featured the case in a two-part podcast. They described the “brutal murder” in detail and aside from referencing the victim’s “humanity” and “goodness in his blood,” commented on his having been “a moral man who was old-fashioned but effective.” In a clearly well researched feature they referenced how the family had moved to 30 Upper Cheyne Row in 1994 and that they and their two children, Isobel and Sabrina, had lived an “idyllic” life there prior to the tragic events on Monday 29th November 2004. The podcast revealed that the killer knew the name of his victim and had tracked his wife in the days prior to the slaying and had appeared at the door to the house with a postal sack over his shoulders. Hanson and his cowardly accomplice had brought with them both a gun and six-inch blades and left the couple to die after having stolen items and money valued at just £4,000.
A photograph of the house taken in 1949 and shared on the blog ‘A London Inheritance’ shows it to then be painted white and lacking the “ornate ironwork” entrance gates now installed (left) whilst today it has exposed brickwork (right).The drawing room of the property measures 24’6” by 15’4” and is the main entertaining area in a property that the selling agent lauds as having 25 windows.The dining room is located on the ground floor and has doors onto a courtyard garden.The dining kitchen is perfectly functional, but clearly any buyer will likely rip it out and replace it with something a little more modern.One of five bedrooms in the four-floor house.The courtyard garden is enclosed and private. Note the security measures which includes bars on the windows and spikes on the entrance gates to the parking area above.The Catholic Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer and Saint Thomas More stands opposite the house where a murder most horrid occurred on 29th November 2004. The church was used as an air raid shelter during the Second World War and on the night of Saturday 14th September 1940, when 100 people were sheltering in the crypt, a high explosive bomb hit the building. It killed 19 people, but amazingly “the overall fabric of the church did not suffer major damage.”A floor plan of the 2,196 square foot property currently offered for sale for £4.5 million by The London Broker.
A graduate of the London School of Economics, Matthew Steeples is a writer and marketing consultant. He conceived The Steeple Times as a media arena to fill the void between the Mail Online, The Huffington Post and such organs as the New York Social Diary in 2012.
What an absolutely beautiful home and what a terrible tragedy to befall them. I never cease to be shocked speechless by the cruelty and mind numbing acts committed by people who call themselves ‘devil child 666’…..both him and his accomplice ‘Elliott’, DESERVE to be locked up forever. This story has really upset me. A beautiful little family, now in ruins. I hope Mrs Monckton and her daughter have managed to regain some semblance of peace joy and happiness again. But somehow I doubt it.
Yet another depressing example of extremely violent black males who feel entitled to just grab and steal whatever they want from others who are far more worthy, accomplished and hard-working than they could ever be.
These two disgusting creatures deserve no mercy whatsoever, and should never be released from prison. Scum.
‘Star car’ Rolls-Royce used in classic film ‘Withnail and I’ and that was built for “Santa Claus lookalike” playboy Nubar Gulbenkian for sale for just £135,000 in spite of having had a £190,000 renovation.
A previously not-seen-in-public Jeffrey Epstein 1990s address book – last sold for £400 in December 2020 on eBay – is about to be offered for sale at auction; it is estimated to fetch as much as £800,000 and one is left asking: “Will someone really pay so much to keep this out of the public eye?”
Vintage dealer David Lennox on ‘famous faces’ who’ve made significant profits in the world of classic cars; he also gives some advice about a key feature in a classic car – its alternator.
Tardis-like hidden house in Knightsbridge once home to ‘airhead’ Donna Air – who once amusingly asked The Corrs: “Where did you all meet?” – for sale for £14.5 million (or 383% more than it was ‘worth’ in 2003).
Please subscribe, like and share this unique site, it helps us tremendously. The Steeple Times in return will send you an email at noon each and everyday, that we sincerely hope you will enjoy & look forward to seeing in your inbox.
In a revision to our Christmas discussion dinner event on Sunday 8th December, Matthew Steeples will now delve into developments in the Menendez brothers, Madeleine McCann and Ghislaine Maxwell cases with freelance writer and former BBC publicist Claire Rubinstein.
Matthew Steeples to interview Karen Phillipps, author of the newly released ‘Get Carman’ at 8th December discussion dinner in London; an account of the life and times of “Britain’s most feared lawyer” George Carman QC.
Matthew Steeples suggests that with new ownership looming, it is time for ‘The Telegraph’ to put Ghislaine Maxwell apologists agony aunt Rachel Johnson and agony uncle Richard Madeley out to pasture.
Matthew Steeples suggests the late Jeffrey Epstein’s close chum, meddling ‘Prince of Darkness’ Peter Mandelson, to be totally unfit to be British ambassador to the US.
Phillip Schofield filmed smoking shisha with his alleged ex-lover Matt McGreevy (and pictured in bed thereafter); another image shows the pair together in photograph...
As author Kirby Sommers suggests that the then Meghan Markle likely spent time with Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein before she met Prince Harry, we again highlight the mucky, murkiness and mendacious manner of this alleged “yacht girl.”
‘Politicalite’ suggest Phillip Schofield orchestrated his ‘mass coming out’ after a former ‘This Morning’ runner had gone to the press about a supposed relationship...
Expose interview with Matthew Steeples by Shaun Attwood and Jennifer Hopkins about the former Meghan Markle watched over 73,000 times in 16 hours since it aired; Steeples condemns hapless Prince Harry and his meddling menace wife.
Oldham born divorcee and former glamour model Ampika Pickston describes herself as “feisty, fun loving and warm hearted”. Now based in Hale Barns, Cheshire...
Power of social media proven after senseless killing of James Scurlock in Omaha, Nebraska allegedly by a controversial bar owner named Jake Gardner who has been photographed with Donald Trump.
Entitled Hamptons brat Jonathan Davis exposed for allegedly squatting in Sag Harbor during the coronavirus lockdown; it turns out he’s a realtor with NestSeekers.
What an absolutely beautiful home and what a terrible tragedy to befall them. I never cease to be shocked speechless by the cruelty and mind numbing acts committed by people who call themselves ‘devil child 666’…..both him and his accomplice ‘Elliott’, DESERVE to be locked up forever. This story has really upset me. A beautiful little family, now in ruins. I hope Mrs Monckton and her daughter have managed to regain some semblance of peace joy and happiness again. But somehow I doubt it.
Yet another depressing example of extremely violent black males who feel entitled to just grab and steal whatever they want from others who are far more worthy, accomplished and hard-working than they could ever be.
These two disgusting creatures deserve no mercy whatsoever, and should never be released from prison. Scum.