What happened to Ann Moore-Martin? How Ben Field scammed another victim after the murder of Peter Farquhar

A new true-crime drama about the deaths of Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire in 2015 and 2017 is coming to the BBC.

The Sixth Commandment, a four-part series, begins airing on 17 July, with Timothy Spall (Mr. Turner, the Harry Potter series) starring.

Farquhar, a retired university lecturer, was duped into a fake relationship with village churchwarden Ben Field and changed his will in Field’s favour.

Mr Farquhar was subjected to months of gas-lighting and coercive control, before Field steadily poisoned him, killing him on 26 October, 2015.

A similar thing occurred a few years later with his neighbour, Moore-Martin who also changed her will to include Field.

The show is said to highlight “the devastating effect of isolation and loneliness”.

What happened to Ann Moore-Martin?

Retired headmistress Moore-Martin died of natural causes in May 2017, after entering a relationship with manipulative “psychopath” Field.

Field was accused of plotting to kill Moore-Martin, 83, but was found not guilty.

The Baptists minister’s son admitted duping Farquhar and Moore-Martin into fake relationships to get them to change their wills.

He had undergone a “betrothal” ceremony with Farquhar and was in a sexual relationship with Moore-Martin.

Moore-Martin had plans to move closer to family, but changed her mind after her relationship with Field started. Her niece raised the alarm, contacting Thames Valley Police and informing them that she believed Ben was manipulating her aunt into changing her will.

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The report sparked a series of revelations that led towards Field’s murder conviction and in October 2019, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum period of 36 years.

While he was found guilty, Mr Field denied any involvement in either Mr Field or Miss Moore-Martin’s deaths. But during his trial, he did admit to the fake relationships as being part of a plot to get their wills changed in his favour.

During his trial, detectives described Mr Field to the court as a psycopath who would have posed an “ongoing danger to society” if he wasn’t stopped.

Justice Sweeney said Field was a “well-practised and able liar” and had “no doubt” he was a “dangerous offender”.

When is Sixth Commandment on TV?

All episodes are available on BBC iPlayer, and the first episode will air on BBC One at 9pm on 17 July, with episode two at the same time on 18 July, and parts three and four on 24 and 25 July.

The series was written and executive produced by Sarah Phelps – known for penning a number of Agatha Christie adaptations for the BBC, as well as A Very British Scandal. It is directed by Saul Dibb (The Salisbury Poisonings, Journey’s End). The show was made with the full co-operation if Farquhar and Moore-Martin’s families, BBC has said.