Arrogant boast of Sixth Commandment's Ben Field after he murdered Peter Farquhar
Twisted killer Benjamin Field made an arrogant boast in the back of a police van after being arrested for murdering Peter Farquhar.
Field's defence relied upon admitting a string of reprehensible things and by doing so he hoped to get off with his most heinous crime - the murder of former Manchester Grammar School teacher Peter. The arrogant and cruel killer admitted as much himself. "I think I will get away with most of it," while sat in the back of a police van awaiting his fate.
Current BBC series The Sixth Commandment has dramatised the story of killer Benjamin Field, and the older people he targeted in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire. It was a case that devastated those who knew him in this city - where Peter Farquar became loved as an inspirational teacher, mentor and friend.
Mr Farquhar came to teach English at Manchester Grammar School aged 24 in the early 70s, after attending Latymer Upper School in London and Churchill College, Cambridge. He stayed for more than decade, living first in a bedsit in Withington and later in Heaton Moor, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Journalist and long-time friend Michael Crick wrote in his obituary: "Few people taught by Peter Farquhar, as I was, would ever forget him. For many students he inspired a love of literature and poetry; he would spot pupils' potential and gently push them to fulfil it. Despite his old fogey image, he had an acute understanding of the problems of modern adolescent boys. For some, he became almost like a second father."
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Mr Farquhar was a committed Christian, who once considered becoming a minister. He was also gay and felt tormented over his sexuality, said Crick. "Peter felt unable to establish homosexual relationships because his church regarded them as a sin, and he feared God might reject him for even harbouring such feelings. He remained celibate all his life."
Benjamin Field was jailed at Oxford Crown Court for life with a minimum term of 36 years for the murder of Peter Farquhar (PA)
Former Manchester Grammar School teacher Peter Farquhar was murdered by Benjamin Field (PA)After leaving Manchester he went on to become head of English at Stowe public school in Buckinghamshire until 2004 and then lectured occasionally at the University of Buckingham. It was there he met Field.
Intelligent, witty and eloquent, the PhD student impressed the lecturer with his love and knowledge of Romantic literature. After just a few meetings Field told Mr Farquhar, who was almost three times his age, that he loved him. Soon Field had moved in with Mr Farquhar at his home in the small village of Maids Moreton - and got him to change his will.
The long-time bachelor, who had been haunted by the fear that he would die alone, thought he had finally found love. He had no idea the man he would commit to in a church betrothal ceremony had a wicked plan in motion. Within weeks he had started secretly spiking Mr Farquhar's food and drink with drugs, leading to hallucinations, night terrors, and public humiliation at a book signing where, slumped and disoriented, the writer's frail, bewildered state shocked friends.
Field, a Baptist minister's son and church warden, deleted contacts from Mr Farquhar's mobile phone, persuading him he must have done it himself. It was gaslighting of the worst order.
Peter Farquhar and Benjamin Field at Dunkerry Beacon. Field (PA)It convinced a terrified Mr Farquhar he was losing his mind and drove him to thoughts of suicide. When that failed, on October 26, 2015, Field killed him and made it look like he had drunk himself to death. His death, aged 69, was recorded as accidental as a result of acute alcohol intoxication. Field then collected his victim's estate - £20,000 and a share of Mr Farquhar's home.
Shamelessly the manipulative killer also gave the eulogy at Mr Farquhar's funeral. And he might have got away with his crime, if it weren't for the fact he'd also begun targeting Mr Farquhar's neighbour, 82-year-old Ann Moore-Martin. Like Mr Farquhar, the retired headteacher was deeply religious, unmarried and had no children. Field began a sexual relationship with her and soon moved in.
Ben Field and Peter Farquhar pictured in the garden (Channel 4 images must not be altered or manipulated in any way. This picture may be used solely for Channel 4 programme publicity purposes in connection with the current broadcast of the programme(s) featured in the national and local press and listings. Not to be reproduced or redistributed for any use or in any medium not set out above.)Once again he began a campaign of gaslighting, writing messages on Ms Martin-Moore's mirrors, purporting to be from God, telling her to change her will in his favour. Field would later tell a jury at Oxford Crown Court: "The mirror writing was all fake, the relationship was all fake and done with gain in mind. I have deceived absolutely everybody that I have any kind of relationship with."
Ms Martin-Moore suffered a seizure in February 2017. While in hospital, she told her niece about her relationship with Field and the writing on the mirrors. The police then launched an investigation.
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