This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20171967

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Stephen Farrow guilty of two murders Stephen Farrow guilty of two murders
(35 minutes later)
Homeless drifter Stephen Farrow has been found guilty of the murders of a vicar and a retired teacher. A homeless drifter who murdered a vicar and a retired teacher has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Farrow, 48, had admitted the manslaughter of the Rev John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, near Bristol, but denied his murder. Stephen Farrow, 48, who was obsessed with religion, had admitted the manslaughter of the Rev John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, near Bristol, but denied his murder.
He denied stabbing Betty Yates, 77, at her home, in Bewdley, Worcestershire.He denied stabbing Betty Yates, 77, at her home, in Bewdley, Worcestershire.
Farrow had refused to leave his cell for parts of the trial at Bristol Crown Court but was in the dock to hear the verdicts. But the jury at Bristol Crown Court found him guilty of both murders.
He had been diagnosed with a psychopathic personality disorder and his barrister had argued it "substantially affected" his ability to exercise self-control. Farrow had refused to leave his cell for parts of the trial, despite a jury request to attend so they could hear his evidence. However he was in the dock for the verdicts.
He had been diagnosed with a psychopathic personality disorder and his barrister argued it "substantially affected" his ability to exercise self-control.
He had pleaded guilty to the vicar's manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.He had pleaded guilty to the vicar's manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
'Christian scum'
But by finding him guilty of murder, the jury found he knew what he was doing when he stabbed both victims.But by finding him guilty of murder, the jury found he knew what he was doing when he stabbed both victims.
Farrow claimed he had been sexually abused at boarding school by a priest, and that he wanted to murder the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The murder of Mr Suddards at his vicarage was the culmination of a two-month reign of terror in which Farrow killed Mrs Yates and threatened to kill "Christian scum".
The trial had heard that Farrow sent a chilling text message to a friend on New Year's Eve last year, warning her that the "Church will be the first to suffer".
Farrow told a psychiatrist he had intended to crucify the clergyman and his death was part of his desire to "fulfil his fantasy".
DNA evidence
Mr Suddards was stabbed seven times and suffered wounds to his shoulder, chest, abdomen and shoulder.
He was discovered on the morning of 14 February lying on his back in the hallway of his vicarage and surrounded by pornography, party poppers, a condom wrapper, underwear, a canvas of Jesus Christ and a mirror.
A copy of the New Testament - open to the Letter of Jude - was found on Mr Suddards's chest with an A3-sized calendar of a semi-naked male model covering the lower half of his body.
After fatally stabbing Mr Suddards on the night of 13 February, Farrow stayed at his victim's home to watch an Indiana Jones DVD and drink beer.
DNA evidence linked the heavy cannabis user to the murders of Mr Suddards and widow Mrs Yates, who was found dead at her cottage on 4 January, having been killed two days earlier.
Mrs Yates's body was found lying in her hallway with her head resting on a cushion.
She had been beaten with a walking stick and stabbed four times in the head, with the knife still embedded in her neck.
Mr Suddards and Mrs Yates were both killed weeks after a burglary at Vine Cottage, near the vicarage in Thornbury.
Owners Alan and Margaret Pinder spent Christmas and New Year away and returned to find a note pinned to a table by two knives, which read: "Be thankful you didn't come back or we will have killed you, Christian scum. I hate God."
Farrow pleaded guilty to the burglary at an earlier hearing.
The jury was unanimous in finding Farrow guilty of the vicar's murder, and found him guilty of murdering Mrs Yates by a majority of 11 to one.