Pensioner and vicar death links examined

Police investigating the murder of a former Yorkshire clergyman in his vicarage say they are exploring “similarities” between his death and that of a 77-year-old woman in Worcestershire last month.

West Mercia Police officers investigating the murder of Betty Yates at her home in Bewdley on January 2 say they are working with officers investigating the stabbing of the Rev John Suddards, 59, in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, last Tuesday.

Det Chief Insp Neil Jamieson, of West Mercia Police, said they were interested in the work by Avon and Somerset Police and had been working with them to examine similarities between the two incidents.

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He added: “We will continue our unrelenting efforts to bring the offender responsible for this dreadful crime to justice.”

Stephen Farrow, 47, was arrested in Folkestone, Kent, in the early hours of yesterday in connection with Mr Suddards’s death.

Mrs Yates, a retired teacher, was found stabbed to death at the foot of the stairs at her home on the banks of the River Severn on January 4.

A man was arrested on February 2 and questioned by police investigating her death but he was later released on bail. West Mercia Police later issued descriptions of two men seen close to her home on the day they believe she died.

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Mr Suddards was found stabbed to death at his home in Castle Street in Thornbury on Tuesday morning. The news of his death sent shockwaves through the clergy and the close-knit community, which lies about 11 miles north of Bristol.

On Saturday police launched a nationwide appeal for Farrow, whom they said was known to travel the country extensively, mainly by bus. He was arrested after a tip-off from the public.