A cosy suburb of Buckinghamshire has fallen victim to exploitation, fraud and even murder in recent months as a conniving sociopath targeted vulnerable elderly home owners, befriended them, persuaded them to incorporate himself into their Will before killing them.
The scene is reminiscent of Midsomer: leafy, quiet, affluent; a clear antithesis of a setting one would predict a murder would take place.
For Church Warden, Benjamin Fields, 28, it was the perfect location to gain the trust of wealthy home owners so he could manipulate their wishes, enter their Will and kill them.
Mr Fields, along with his alleged accomplice, Martyn Smith, 32, stand accused of killing Peter Farquhur, a 69-year-old former University of Buckingham lecturer and author.
Additionally, they are also being charged with the attempted murder of former Headteacher, Ann Moore-Martin, 83.
The court heard harrowing tales of predatory behaviour and a suspect that relished in the fraud, deceit and ultimately, the murder of his victims.
Fields referred to the various acts as ‘projects,’ frequently committing his grizzly plans to paper.
Although the murder of Ann Moore-Martin was prevented when her niece was notified of Field’s presence in Moore-Martin’s daily life, the merciless Fields defrauded his victim of at least £27,000 by pretending to be ill and in need of a dialysis machine.
The prosecutor claimed that the Mr Forquhar was killed via suffocation, an act that Mr Fields committed himself.
In addition to the acts of murder, violence and attempted murder, Mr Fields and Mr Smith have been accused of burgling the homes of elderly people, including a 101-year-old woman.
Whilst Mr Fields denies the charges of murder and attempted murder, he has pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud and two charges of burglary.
A recent Action on Elder Abuse survey claims that 10.6% know an older person that has experienced financial abuse with 8.6% aware of neglect.
The survey also highlighted that only 0.7% of cases regarding the abuse of elderly people conclude in a criminal conviction for the accused.
Currently, hate crime legislation does not recognise the abuse of older people as an aggravated offence, making it a lot more difficult to prosecute.
In recent months the Law Commission has reviewed legislation and considered making changes that could help the suspected 1 million older people who are currently being abused and exploited.
Gary FitzGerald, Action on Elder Abuse chief executive, said:
“We welcome a review into hate crime legislation which will consider the need for elder abuse to become an aggravated offence.
“Frankly, such a step is long overdue. Older people are being neglected and abused physically, financially, psychologically and sexually across the country every day, both in care settings and in their own homes.
“But the number of convictions for these crimes is tiny and, even when someone is found guilty, they often escape with flimsy sentences and paltry fines that do nothing to deter would-be abusers.
“The UK now has an opportunity to join other countries including the US, Japan and Israel by making elder abuse a crime, with the sorts of punishments that the public expects. We must make it clear that we as a society will not tolerate these cowardly acts against some of the most vulnerable people in our community.”
Oliver Saxby QC, prosecutor in the case, said:
“The motive was financial gain – laced, as far as Benjamin Field is concerned, with a profound fascination in controlling and manipulating and humiliating and killing.
“If he was to inherit their houses, they had to die. And if he was to enjoy his inheritance, he had to get away with it.”
Do you think that increased legislative measures are needed to prevent further abuse of the elderly? How do legal service providers in Wills and Estate Planning deal with suspected cases of elder abuse?
