The family of a woman who was murdered by Victor Farrant in 1996 and given a whole-life sentence have said plans to release him on “compassionate grounds” are a “national scandal.”
Farrant was jailed for life for the murder of his former girlfriend Glenda Hoskins, 44, and the attempted murder of Ann Fidler, 45. Both crimes were committed within weeks of his release from a prison sentence for rape.
Last month Ms. Hoskins’ family were told Farrant, who is now 76, was being considered for compassionate leave as he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and had only months to live.
A Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) panel on Wednesday is considering whether to grant his release.
Ms. Hoskins’ family have written a letter to the panel which says, “Victor Farrant is an incredibly dangerous man with a hatred of women. If he is sick and dying then I’m afraid this makes him even more dangerous.”
“What has he got to lose by killing/raping again if he knows he has only months to live,” they added.
Farrant was originally jailed in 1988 for 12 years for rape and other offences but he was released on Nov. 7, 1995 and shortly afterwards beat Ms. Fidler at her home in Eastleigh, Hampshire.
On Feb. 7, 1996 Farrant attacked Ms. Hoskins at her luxury home in Port Solent, near Portsmouth, drowning her in the bath.
He left her body in the attic, where it was found by her daughter Katie, who was 15.
Farrant then went on the run and was eventually captured in the south of France.
Judge Told Farrant: ‘You Should Never be Released’
Sentencing him at Winchester Crown Court in 1998, the judge Mr. Justice Butterfield said: “This murder was so terrible and you are so dangerous that in your case the sentence of life should mean just that. You should never be released.”Ms. Hoskins’ three children, Katie, Iain and David, say in their letter to the MAPPA panel: “It’s shocking that the justice system is even considering this. You cannot overturn a judicial ruling.”
“Justice Butterfield said that he should never be released, in the knowledge Farrant would die in prison. Him dying in prison, either of natural causes or a terminal illness was how his sentence was ruled in 1998,” they added.
Prisoners serving life sentence or other long custodial terms are sometimes released on compassionate grounds.
In October 2000 Reggie Kray—one half of the notorious Kray twins—died in a hotel in Norfolk two months after being released from a life sentence by the then Home Secretary Jack Straw.
The Great Train Robber, Ronnie Biggs, was released from prison in 2009 even though he had not completed his 30-year sentence. He had suffered several strokes and eventually died in 2013, aged 84.
But David Hoskins say Farrant has shown no remorse and in his letter to the MAPPA panel he writes, “It appears grossly unjust if he is getting released early due to ill health, and the words ‘compassionate release’ make my blood boil.”
They add: “Our mother was raped and murdered and subjected to months of terror and stalking by this vile creature. Where’s her compassion?”
Penny Mordaunt Says Farrant ‘Danger to Women’
She wrote, “He is a danger to women and has demonstrated repeatedly, that he cannot be reformed. I find it deeply troubling that a man such as Mr Farrant is being considered for release on compassionate grounds when it is evident, he displayed no compassion towards his victims.”Whatever the MAPPA panel’s recommendation is, the power to grant compassionate leave remains with Mr. Chalk.
Farrant is not the first murderer whose release has become controversial.
In Dec. 2022 Russell Causley became the first convicted murderer to appear before a public parole hearing.
Causley was however released by the parole board in February 2023.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said in a previous statement, “Glenda Hoskins’ murder was a horrific crime and our thoughts remain with her family and friends.”
“Prisoners are only released on compassionate grounds in exceptional circumstances following strict risk assessments and no formal application has yet been made in this case,” he added.
