Samantha Drummonds & Family
On April 25, 2022, Joshua Jacques brutally murdered his girlfriend Samantha Drummonds and three members of her family in their Bermondsey home. The incident highlighted systemic failures in probation and mental health services.
Victims: Samantha Drummonds, 27 (L), Dolet Hill, 64, Denton Burke, 58, Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, 45(R)
Perpetrator: Joshua Jacques, 29
Date of Incident: 25 April 2022
Location: Delaford Road, Bermondsey
​
​Key Details:
​
-
Samantha Drummonds was Jacques' girlfriend and a beloved family member.
​​
-
Tanysha Ofori-Akuffo, Samantha's mother, was a dedicated nurse.
​​
-
Dolet Hill, Samantha's grandmother, had recently completed cancer treatment.
​​
-
Denton Burke, Dolet Hill's partner, was known for his kind-hearted nature.
​​
-
Joshua Jacques had a history of mental health issues, including Bipolar Disorder Type I, and heavy cannabis use.
​​
-
He had a criminal record with 11 previous convictions for 20 offenses.
​
-
Jacques' mental health issues were exacerbated by his heavy cannabis use.
​​
-
He had previously been detained under the Mental Health Act in 2018.
​​
-
Significant failings in probation supervision and mental health intervention were identified.
​​
-
Jacques' probation conditions were not adequately enforced, and opportunities for intervention were missed.
​​
-
Jacques was convicted of four counts of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 45 years and 301 days.
​​
-
The trial emphasised the premeditated nature of the attack despite Jacques' claims of mental impairment.
​​
-
The murders had a profound impact on the surviving family members and the community.
​​
-
The case underscored the need for reforms in probation and mental health systems to prevent similar tragedies in the future.