A HOMELESS drifter has been sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of the murder of an ex-Witham clergyman.
Stephen Farrow, 49, has been found guilty of the murder of the Reverend John Suddards, as well as that of pensioner Betty Yates from Bewdley, Worcestershire.
Farrow pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Reverend Suddards on the grounds of diminished responsibility last month but denied any involvement in the murder of pensioner Betty Yates.
Mr Suddards, a former lawyer, had moved to Thornbury last July, having spent ten years as a vicar at St Nicolas Church in Chipping Hill, Witham, where he was considered a popular figure in the community.
The 59-year-old's body was found by builders who had arrived to do work on the property in February of this year.
Following a four week trial the jury of eight men and four women on Friday (November 2) convicted Farrow of both murders. He was sentenced to two whole life sentences.
He was also sentenced for an aggravated burglary which he admitted carrying out at Vine Cottage, Thornbury, between December 21 last year and January 3 2012. He will serve three years concurrent for this crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Crisp from Avon and Somerset Police, who worked on the case, said: "Stephen Farrow was a drifter with no fixed address and no ties to any particular area. He was located and arrested many miles away from where he committed these crimes within 48 hours of him being identified as a suspect. There is no doubt in my mind that this swift arrest prevented further offences being committed.
"During this investigation invaluable assistance was provided by Dorset, Sussex and Kent police who worked tirelessly with us, West Mercia Constabulary and the Serious and Organised Crime agency to track and arrest Farrow.
"The National Police Database was also essential to our enquiry. Farrow was identified as a suspect as a result of partial DNA evidence, obtained with help from our forensic service providers.
"However, it is to those members of the public who performed their civic duty in reporting sightings of Farrow and who assisted us in recovering vital items of evidence to who we owe our sincerest thanks. They know who they are and I'd like to take this opportunity to say that I am most grateful to them for their help.
"I would like to pay tribute to the two innocent victims in this case. Betty Yates and John Suddards were in every way exemplary members of our community - honest people who were prepared to offer help to those in need - values which deserve our admiration and respect.
"Finally I'd like to thank our first rate prosecution team led by the CPS here in Bristol who coordinated a complicated and challenging case through to today's final conclusion."
