Vicarage
killer ‘had
targeted
Williams’

Stephen Farrow, 48, told mental health nurse Richard Evans that he wanted to murder Rowan Williams but the security was “astronomical”.

He described how he stabbed Rev John Suddards, 59, at his vicarage in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire in February and had planned to crucify him.

Farrow also gave details of killing retired teacher Betty Yates, 77, at her remote cottage in Bewdley, Worcestershire.

Bristol Crown Court heard how Farrow sent a chilling text message to a friend warning her that the “church will be the first to suffer” just days before Mrs Yates died in January.

Michaela Rowsell, known to friends as Ky, said she was “petrified” after receiving the text message on New Year’s Eve and phoned police.

The text included: “You will soon know the truth and the church will be the first to suffer and I don’t lie about what is about to happen.”

Jurors also heard that Farrow claimed he had been abused by a priest aged 11.

Mr Evans told the court: “He said he had travelled to Canterbury to see whether he could kill Rowan Williams, the Archbishop. He told me that the security was astronomical and would be difficult to achieve.”

The nurse said Farrow told him he had originally planned to crucify Mr Suddards but had left a bag containing a hammer and nails in Eastbourne.

Farrow said he had gone to St Mary’s on the evening of February 13 and waited outside while he made him some food.

“He knew he was going to do it,” Mr Evans said. “He then accused the vicar of sexually abusing him. He said the vicar didn’t deny those allegations.”

Mr Evans went onto explain that Farrow was not accusing Mr Suddards of sexually abusing him but priests and the church in general.

Farrow told him: “I then stabbed the vicar.”

Farrow is being tried in his absence and denies two counts of murder but has admitted manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

The case continues.