Rapist who killed mum-of-three dies in prison weeks after bid to be freed

A violent rapist who was sentenced to life for drowning a mum-of-three to death 28 years ago has died in prison.

Victor Farrant had asked to be freed on compassionate grounds in March, after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

He had initially been jailed in 1998 for the murder of Glenda Hoskins, 44, and attempted murder of 45-year-old Anne Fidler, with the judge saying his crimes were 'so terrible' that he should never be released.

Ms Hoskins' family were said to be 'petrified' that her killer could walk free from prison regardless.

Today, her children released a statement to say his death brought an end to an 'agonising two months'.

The Prison Service said Farrant had died on Friday at HMP Wakefield, aged 74.

A coroner will now look into the cause of his death.

The statement from Iain, Katie and David, the children of Ms Hoskins, said: 'Farrant's whole life sentence and the judges remarks that he should die in prison should have been respected.

'However, Farrant's death, like his imprisonment, changes nothing for us, the circumstances and death of our mother, Glenda Hoskins, will haunt us for the rest of our lives.

'His death, though, does bring to a close a very painful chapter for us all.

'We, and the public at large should, certainly feel safer that this repeat-offender psychopath will not strike again.'

Farrant had been jailed in November 1988 for a total of 12 years for rape and other offences.

He was released on November 7, 1995, just weeks before he savagely beat Ms Fidler at her home in Eastleigh, Hampshire.

Six weeks later, he murdered accountant Mrs Hoskins at her luxury waterside home in Portsmouth by pushing her under the water in the bath.

He left her body in the attic where it was found by her 15-year-old daughter Katie.

After killing Mrs Hoskins, Farrant went on the run and was eventually found in the south of France.

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