An ex-church warden serving a life sentence for murdering a pensioner could have his conviction reviewed in the Court of Appeal.

Benjamin Field, 34, manipulated two pensioners, Peter Farquhar and Ann Moore-Martin, into relationships with him in a bid to extort their money.

Field, a Baptist minister’s son, was sentenced to at least 36 years in prison in 2019 for murdering Peter Farquhar, 69, by giving him tranquiliser drugs and whisky.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has now said that it will refer Field’s case to the Court of Appeal, over a legal argument that Farquhar may have drunk the whisky willingly.

Prior to his imprisonment, a court heard that Field mentally manipulated Farquhar into a relationship. Field knew that Farquhar, a university lecturer, was conflicted over his sexuality due to his Christian faith. The two men had a “betrothal” ceremony, with Farquhar unaware that Field had had many girlfriends, as well as an obsession with Ann Moore-Martin.

Field convinced Moore-Martin that God was speaking to her by writing messages such as “Pray for Ben... he loves you” on her bathroom mirror. He also persuaded her to change her will. After suffering a seizure, she confided in her niece about the relationship.

Moore-Martin was able to reverse her will back to her family before she passed away from natural causes in 2017, two years after Peter’s death.

In 2021, Field’s attempt to appeal his conviction was rejected by the Court of Appeal. He was also denied permission to reopen the appeal in March 2022.