'Shoe fetish' killer gets life

Wendy Speakes was raped and then stabbed 11 times

A man whose shoe fetish led him to rape and murder a 51-year-old receptionist has been jailed for life.

Christopher Farrow, 39, was given a life sentence at Leeds Crown Court on Tuesday for the murder of mother-of-two Wendy Speakes in March 1994.

Farrow pleaded guilty to the crimes

Farrow, a printer, was also given a 14-year sentence for rape, 14 years for buggery and four years for attempted burglary with the intention of raping another woman, all to run concurrently.

The court was told that Farrow raped Mrs Speakes in her home in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, after raiding her downstairs shoe drawer to carry out his bizarre sexual fantasies.

Robert Smith, QC, prosecuting, told the court that Farrow placed a pair of black high-heeled shoes on a dressing table and then raped Mrs Speakes because he liked "looking at shoes when having sex".

Farrow also forced Mrs Speakes to wear a pair of blue shoes while he carried out the sex ordeal.

Aroused by shoes

Farrow, who lived on his own in Leeds but also spent time with his partner in Bradford, said he left Mrs Speakes tied up with tights before returning to the room to stab her 11 times until she died.

Mr Smith added: "This man was sexually aroused by ladies' shoes."

He's a very dangerous man and should never be released

Wendy Speakes' daughter

Farrow, who pleaded guilty to rape, murder, buggery and attempted burglary with the intention of raping another woman, stared straight at Mr Justice Morland as his sentence was passed.

Mrs Speakes' two daughters Leah and Tracey wept in the public gallery as the judge said the crime was savage, brutal and terrible.

Speaking outside court, Tracey, 36, said: "He's a very dangerous man and should never be released.

"He has robbed me and my sister of our mum and robbed my five-year-old daughter of a grandma."

Fingerprint breakthrough

A massive police operation was launched to find Mrs Speakes' killer, with DNA tests carried out on more than 5,500 men.

Advancements in computer technology this year meant that during a search on unsolved crimes, police matched a fingerprint found at Mrs Speakes' home to prints taken from Farrow when he was arrested for drink-driving in 1996.

DNA tests on blood found at the scene of the crime linked Farrow to the rape and murder.

After the sentencing, detectives revealed that Farrow may be responsible for other serious crimes.

Detective Chief Superintendent Paul Johnston, who led the inquiry said: "Our investigation doesn't stop here.

"Even though Farrow has been sentenced to life imprisonment, it is vital that we identify any other crimes he may have been involved in."