A woman whose mum was raped and murdered by a Leeds man dubbed the 'Shoe Fetish Killer' is trying to stop him being released from prison.
Christopher Farrow, now 61, tied up Wendy Speakes with stockings and forced her to wear blue mule shoes before he raped her and stabbed her to death in 1994. Wendy's body was tragically found at her home in Wakefield.
Police spent six years hunting for Farrow before he was eventually caught and jailed for life in 2000. He was also handed concurrent sentences for a rape, another serious sexual offence and attempted burglary.
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It is also feared he stalked another woman before he killed Wendy, who was 51. But in 2018, Farrow was transferred to an open prison in preparation for release by parole bosses.
Tomorrow, Friday, November 25, Farrow will have his third parole meeting in six years. Wendy's daughter Tracey Millington-Jones is hoping Farrow will stay in jail for life.
Tracey said: "It took him six years to be caught, so when he's released - what's the point? He could be back in society and is a dangerous psychopath who stalked, planned and pre-mediated to murder a lady who we think was his intended victim.
"But we also don't know if my mum was a secondary victim because he does the stalking and planning beforehand. So you're telling me that he's 61-years-old, and has a hatred of women, and a shoe fetish - and now all of that is gone and he's now a good person? I don't think that anyone on the parole board would want him next door living to them."
It was ruled in 2020 by the parole board that Farrow wasn't suitable for release - but Friday is a fresh hearing. The jury heard during Farrow's trial that he liked "looking at shoes when having sex" so put shoes out while he attacked Wendy. He also forced Wendy to wear a particular pair of shoes and stabbed her 11 times at her home.
Farrow had initially followed a barmaid and tried to rape her and get into her home. He then spoke to receptionist Wendy on her doorstep before forcing his way into her house.
During his trial, Farrow said he had raped Wendy because he had "absolutely zero" sex life with his partner. Tracey has long been campaigning him for him to stay locked up.
Tracey, from Wakefield, said: "It's concerning that the parole board would even consider releasing this man when you've had all these other women who have been murdered by strangers. You need to take violence against women seriously across society and take action to make these dangerous murderers like Farrow locked up before more lives are lost.
"Farrow has not been near a woman for over 22 years and they think he's safe to be released into society. Anyone who makes a decision to release someone like this, who is going on to be the next Yorkshire Ripper with a shoe fetish, has blood on their hands.
"If they do release him and he murders again, I'll be shouting from the roof tops and telling the family of the murdered woman they need to take the parole board to court."
Tracey tries to take some comfort from the fact her mum was so loved.
"She was just lovely and nobody had a bad word to say about her," Tracey added. "When the police did the investigation, they even said they had never come across such a loved and liked lady which is what she was. She was very kind, considerate, hard working and always put everybody first before herself.
"When Farrow knocked on her door, rather than shutting the door on him, she tried to get rid of him by writing an address down for him. That was when he distracted her and walked through the door.
"She was quite a private person and wasn't overly sociable, she was quite happy living on her own after my mum and dad got divorced. She was just a lovely person and absolutely everybody loved her."
Tracey is urging anyone with more information about Farrow to come forward as she believes it could stop him being released.
Tracey said: "Women need to be safe and releasing Farrow means women will not be safe. If there is anyone out there who has ever come across him, or is able to give us information to keep him locked up then please come forward.
"Please help me keep him locked up. If anyone who wants to come forward who knows anything to keep him locked up, then just please come forward."
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