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A man with a fetish for women's shoes who raped and a 51-year-old woman could be moved to an open , despite fears for public safety.

Christopher Farrow was in 2000 for the murder of mum-of-two and receptionist Wendy Speakes, 51, in West Yorkshire in March 1994. The then 39-year-old printer was ordered to serve at least 18 years behind bars and also handed concurrent sentences for rape, buggery and attempted with the intention of raping another woman. But the Parole Board has now recommended he be , rather than released.

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A decision summary from the Parole Board said: "The panel noted that the index offence was a brutal, sexual and violent attack. Although Mr Farrow had completed extensive work in custody to explore his offending behaviour, the panel considered that it was only his recent work that had allowed professionals to say that he had shown insight into his offending.

"Release was not supported by witnesses and the panel was not satisfied that release at this point would be safe for the protection of the public. However, on considering the criteria for recommending placement in open conditions, the panel recommended that Mr Farrow should be progressed in this way."

The Parole Board noted that at the time of Farrow's crimes, he had a sexual interest in rape and sexualised violence, stockings and high-heeled shoes. He also had problems in intimate relationships and managing his emotions.

Farrow raped Mrs Speaks in her home in Wakefield after raiding her shoe drawer and placing a pair of black high heels in view because he liked "looking at shoes when having sex", his trial heard. He also forced her to wear another pair of shoes while carrying out the attack before brutally stabbing her 11 times.

It took police six years to catch Farrow, who was finally apprehended after advances in fingerprint . Farrow, originally from Cookridge in Leeds, was being held at HMP Whatton, a category C prison in Nottinghamshire as of 2024.

He had previously been moved to an open prison in 2018, but returned to a closed jail the following year due to a number of cold case investigations. It has since been confirmed he is no longer a person of intrest to the police, the Parole Board added.

Farrow’s parole hearing on February 27 heard that since returning to closed prison he had completed sessions with a psychologist, and an accredited programme to address offence-related sexual thoughts in 2024. The decision summary added: “Professional assessment of Mr Farrow in custody concluded that he had completed all necessary work. It was recommended that he should continue to strengthen his skills and have a slow transition back into the community via the open estate.”

Since Farrow's minimum term ended in 2018, Mrs Speakes' daughter has been at parole board hearings every two years to argue against his release. Tracey Millington-Jones said she feared her mum's killer would "strike again" if let out, adding that returning to prison so regularly was an "ordeal" for the relatives of murder victims.

Despite her attendance reopening old wounds, Ms Millington-Jones stressed there was "no way I am ever going to give up". She said: "The alternative is that you don't put yourself through it and walk away. Some people do that because it is so tough and you have to be strong. But I can't do that. I feel that I Would be letting my mum down and I would be letting down women in general."

Justice Secretary will make the final decision whether to accept the Parole Board’s recommendation.