Former Milton Keynes minister's son jailed for murder is ordered to pay £190,000 he was left in his victims' wills

Ben Field, from Olney, is currently appealing against the 36-year prison sentence he is serving for the murder of pensioner Peter Farquhar and defrauding 83-year-old Ann Moore-Martin.

A court hearing last October was told how the 29-year-old duped the two pensioners into thinking he was in love with them before defrauding them.

He even went through a 'marriage' ceremony with scholarly Mr Farquhar, and then launched a full-blown love affair with his elderly neighbour Ms Moore-Martin, who was a spinster and former head teacher.

And he persuaded both pensioners to change their wills in his favour.

Police launched confiscation proceedings under the Proceeds of Crime Act against Field, who is the son of the former Olney baptist minister, the Reverend Ian Field.

At Oxford Crown Court today (Thursday), Ben Field was ordered to pay back a total of £193,921.32 gained via the fraudulent activity for which he was convicted.

The current recoverable amount is £146,561.02, which the court ordered Field to pay within three months. If the money is not paid back then the court has ordered Field to serve an additional period of 16 months’ imprisonment.

The whole amount will be paid in compensation to the respective estates of Peter and Ann, split 84 per cent and 16 per cent respectively.

Senior police investigating officer Mark Glover said: “No sum of money could compensate the families of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin. Nevertheless, it is right that the sum of more than £190,000 is stripped from Ben Field and returned to the estates of his victims.

“Field pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and two counts of burglary, which these confiscation proceedings relate to. His guilty pleas demonstrate that he knew all too well that he was duping his elderly victims out of their hard-earned money, by pretending that he loved them.

“This deception continued to the point where Ben underwent a church ceremony in which he and Peter betrothed themselves to each other.

“After he had killed Peter, Field then started a relationship with Ann.

“Field’s actions were cruel, selfish and money-motivated, and I am satisfied that along with a life sentence, he will now have to pay back his fraudulent gains to his victims’ families.”

Mr Glover added: “This is unlike any other case I have investigated in more than 31 years of policing, and Ben Field is unlike any other criminal I have encountered. The extent of his planning, deception and cruelty towards his victims is frankly staggering, and I do not believe he has ever shown an ounce of remorse or contrition.

“This case serves as a reminder that we are all vulnerable in different ways. Therefore, if you suspect you are being defrauded, or you think that someone you know is being defrauded, please report it to the police immediately.

Mr Glover paid tribute to the families of Peter and Ann, saying they had to endure a "living nightmare" during the two year police investigation and subsequent protracted criminal trial, followed by the confiscation proceedings.

"The victims’ families have displayed nothing but dignity and strength throughout. Our thoughts continue to be with them," he said.

Channel 4 made a documentary called A Diary From The Grave about the police investigation of Field and his conviction. You can watch the documentary here .