Within the confines of HMP Frankland's B-wing, a notorious section housing some of Britain's most dangerous offenders, rows of cramped single cells contain sex offenders, child rapists, grooming gang members, and human traffickers. Among them resides Benjamin Field, a former church warden described as both "intelligent" and "sociopathic," who admits to being a "naughty boy" but vehemently denies being a cold-blooded killer.
The Crimes and Conviction
Field, the son of a Baptist minister, was convicted in August 2019 for the murder of 69-year-old university lecturer Peter Farquhar. The victim died in October 2015 after consuming 60% proof whisky combined with sleeping pills at his home in Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire. Field had manipulated Farquhar through a fake romantic relationship, drugged him, and coerced him into changing his will. His predatory actions only came to light when he began targeting Farquhar's neighbour, 83-year-old retired teacher Ann Moore-Martin, whom he manipulated by writing messages on her mirrors purportedly from God. Moore-Martin died of natural causes in May 2017.
Life Behind Bars
A former prison officer who recently left HMP Frankland has provided detailed insights into Field's daily routine and interactions within the Category A facility, which houses approximately 850 male inmates including serial killer Levi Bellfield, murderer Wayne Couzens, and Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi. Field, serving a life sentence with a minimum term of 36 years, maintains his innocence in casual conversations with guards, consistently referring to the murder as "alleged" and claiming he only committed fraud and burglary.
The officer described Field as "very intelligent" and noted he keeps chess puzzles in his cell to stay mentally active. "He had an air of absolute sociopath," the guard revealed. "You could have a conversation with him, but he always gave the impression he thought he was smarter than you." Field works in the prison laundry, starting his day around 8:30 AM on weekdays, washing clothes for other inmates. During breaks, he socializes with other prisoners, including Richard Moors, whom he teaches to read. Moors is serving life for the 2015 murder of 22-year-old Phillip Nicholson.
Manipulation and Awards
Despite his conviction, Field received an award from the Prison Reform Trust in November for helping dangerous prisoners pass maths exams and reach GCSE level through Open University programs. A prison source suggested this achievement might support his latest bid for freedom. Field recently appeared via video link from HMP Frankland to appeal his conviction, arguing it is "unsafe" and that he is imprisoned for a murder he "simply didn't do." Court of Appeal judges will deliver their decision at a later date.
Field's lawyers contend that the original trial judge failed to instruct the jury to determine whether Field directly caused Farquhar to ingest the lethal combination of whisky and sleeping pills. They argue that even if Field supplied the substances, there is no evidence Farquhar's consumption was involuntary, making the conviction unsafe. This marks Field's latest attempt at freedom, following a failed appeal in 2021 and a rejected challenge in 2022, before the Criminal Cases Review Commission referred the case back to appeal judges.
The Broader Context
Field's crimes, depicted in the BBC drama The Sixth Commandment, involved elaborate gaslighting schemes. He defrauded Farquhar of over £160,000 and swindled Moore-Martin out of £31,000 for a car and dialysis machine, though he was acquitted of her attempted murder. Field has since paid £124,665.03 to victims from the sale of a flat purchased with their savings. His case continues to draw attention as he navigates the prison system alongside Britain's most notorious criminals, all while steadfastly denying his role in Farquhar's death.
