Lisa Clarke, 53, from Aston, who had been part of a ‘sadistic’ gang, died in custody last month
Lisa Jean Clarke(Image: WMP)
A brutal female killer who was part of an evil gang who tortured an ex-soldier in a ‘cruel, senseless and barbaric act’ has died in prison while serving a life sentence.
Lisa Clarke, from Aston, along with three men, formed a “sadistic” group who left Brian Farmer to die in his flat at Bakeman House, Yardley, in May 2012.
The 64-year-old victim, who served more than 20 years in the British Army, was stabbed and had boiling water poured over him.
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He suffered five stab wounds and had 17 separate injuries to his head and neck. He was also force-fed drugs during the horrific ordeal.
Clarke was convicted of murder following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court in 2013. She was jailed for 23 years in December that year.
Jason Andrews, then 40, of no fixed address, and Vaughan Davies, then 18, from Derby, were also convicted of murder and jailed for 27 and 14 years respectively. Peter Knowles, 52 at the time, of no fixed address, was cleared of murder but found guilty of manslaughter and jailed for 14 years.
Brian Farmer was found dead at his flat in Yardley
Mr Farmer’s family described the killing at the time as “a cruel, senseless and barbaric act committed without remorse or feeling has left an emptiness that can never be filled”.
The judge told the gang: “The conduct you carried out over a period of two hours came very close to sadistic.
“One or more of you poured boiling water over him for no better purpose than to humiliate and torture him.
“All of this to a vulnerable man in his own home when all he had done was invite you in as friends. This was a cruel and unpleasant way of ending the life of a man who had fallen on hard times, and, who, over the years had done service to his country.”
The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has launched an independent inquiry into the death of 53-year-old Clarke.
Birmingham-born Clarke had been an inmate at HMP Styal, a closed category prison for female adults and young offenders, in Cheshire.
Top row: Jason Andrews and Lisa Clarke. Second row: Peter Knowles and Vaughan Davies
An inquest into her death was opened at Warrington Coroner’s Court as her death was in custody. It emerged she was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital on October 21.
She underwent treatment but died on October 26.
The inquest was adjourned to allow time for the case to be investigated. A pre-inquest review is set for January 29, 2026, and the full inquest will go ahead on April 27, 2026.