MICHAEL FARLEY FROME PAEDOPHILE DIES OF HEART FAILURE IN HOSPITAL
| Red Rose Database
Frome Child Sexual Abuser
In a tragic case that highlights the complex intersection of mental health and criminal behavior, Michael Farley, a 64-year-old man from Frome, passed away due to heart failure while in hospital care. The incident was officially recorded during an inquest held at Flax Bourton Coroners' Court, which examined the circumstances surrounding his death.
Farley was admitted to Weston General Hospital on December 27, 2008, after experiencing severe shortness of breath. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his condition two days later, on December 29. Prior to his hospitalization, Farley had been battling health issues, including diabetes and a heavy smoking habit, which contributed to his declining health. In the days leading up to his death, he also suffered from a persistent cough and a chest infection, complicating his medical situation.
Throughout his life, Farley resided at Sherwood Lodge, a mental health facility located in Weston-super-Mare, where he had been detained under the Mental Health Act since 1991. His mental health history was marked by a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, a condition he had been living with since 1974. His treatment history included stays at several psychiatric hospitals, including Mendip Hospital in Wells, The Homestead in Bath, Blackberry Hill Hospital in Fishponds, and Hillview Lodge in Bath.
A statement from Dr. Richard Stanton, Farley's psychiatrist, provided insight into his long-standing issues with sexual behavior. It was revealed that Farley's sexual orientation towards children, specifically paedophilia, first became evident in 1983 when he was arrested for touching young girls at a swimming pool. Although he was taken into custody, he was returned to hospital care without facing formal charges. The following year, he attempted to indecently assault a seven-year-old boy but was again not prosecuted. Despite efforts to manage his sexual urges through medication and behavioral therapy, these interventions proved ineffective.
In 1985, Farley pleaded guilty to and was convicted of indecently assaulting an eight-year-old girl at a swimming pool. He received a one-year conditional discharge and was detained under the Mental Health Act. Over the years, hospital authorities gradually granted him more unescorted leave, but concerns persisted. In 1988, Farley was reportedly attacked by two men who saw him with his hand on a seven-year-old boy's trousers, raising questions about his safety and the risks he posed.
Farley, an only child, had previously worked as an architect's technician in Frome before his health deteriorated. He openly acknowledged his paedophile tendencies but lacked full understanding of their potential harm to children. Dr. Stanton expressed uncertainty about whether Farley's paedophilia preceded or followed his schizophrenia diagnosis, indicating the complexity of his mental health condition.
In the weeks before his death, Farley contracted the flu and developed a severe cough. His pallor and unsteadiness on his feet signaled his worsening health. On the morning of December 27, he was taken to Weston General Hospital with complaints of shortness of breath. Medical examinations revealed a severe chest infection, which ultimately contributed to his demise. Despite medical intervention, he died at 7:30 am on December 29. The assistant deputy coroner, Maria Voisin, officially recorded the cause of death as natural causes, closing a chapter on a life marked by mental health struggles and criminal behavior.
Farley was admitted to Weston General Hospital on December 27, 2008, after experiencing severe shortness of breath. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to his condition two days later, on December 29. Prior to his hospitalization, Farley had been battling health issues, including diabetes and a heavy smoking habit, which contributed to his declining health. In the days leading up to his death, he also suffered from a persistent cough and a chest infection, complicating his medical situation.
Throughout his life, Farley resided at Sherwood Lodge, a mental health facility located in Weston-super-Mare, where he had been detained under the Mental Health Act since 1991. His mental health history was marked by a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, a condition he had been living with since 1974. His treatment history included stays at several psychiatric hospitals, including Mendip Hospital in Wells, The Homestead in Bath, Blackberry Hill Hospital in Fishponds, and Hillview Lodge in Bath.
A statement from Dr. Richard Stanton, Farley's psychiatrist, provided insight into his long-standing issues with sexual behavior. It was revealed that Farley's sexual orientation towards children, specifically paedophilia, first became evident in 1983 when he was arrested for touching young girls at a swimming pool. Although he was taken into custody, he was returned to hospital care without facing formal charges. The following year, he attempted to indecently assault a seven-year-old boy but was again not prosecuted. Despite efforts to manage his sexual urges through medication and behavioral therapy, these interventions proved ineffective.
In 1985, Farley pleaded guilty to and was convicted of indecently assaulting an eight-year-old girl at a swimming pool. He received a one-year conditional discharge and was detained under the Mental Health Act. Over the years, hospital authorities gradually granted him more unescorted leave, but concerns persisted. In 1988, Farley was reportedly attacked by two men who saw him with his hand on a seven-year-old boy's trousers, raising questions about his safety and the risks he posed.
Farley, an only child, had previously worked as an architect's technician in Frome before his health deteriorated. He openly acknowledged his paedophile tendencies but lacked full understanding of their potential harm to children. Dr. Stanton expressed uncertainty about whether Farley's paedophilia preceded or followed his schizophrenia diagnosis, indicating the complexity of his mental health condition.
In the weeks before his death, Farley contracted the flu and developed a severe cough. His pallor and unsteadiness on his feet signaled his worsening health. On the morning of December 27, he was taken to Weston General Hospital with complaints of shortness of breath. Medical examinations revealed a severe chest infection, which ultimately contributed to his demise. Despite medical intervention, he died at 7:30 am on December 29. The assistant deputy coroner, Maria Voisin, officially recorded the cause of death as natural causes, closing a chapter on a life marked by mental health struggles and criminal behavior.