SUNDERLAND MAN JAILED FOR CHILDHOOD SEXUAL ABUSE AND RAPE
A married man and his wife who sexually abused a child in the 1990s have now been sentenced to prison.David Farrow, aged 60, his wife Susan Farrow, aged 52, and their friend Joseph Willis, aged 74, were brought to justice after the victim reported the abuse more than 20 years later.
The exposure of the offense was prompted by the victim's report in Sunderland.
In October 2022, all three individuals were charged in connection with the abuse.
Following two trials held at Newcastle Crown Court in April 2024 and April 2025, David Farrow was convicted of 11 offenses, which include seven counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault.
The court noted that these offenses occurred before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003.
Susan Farrow was found guilty of one count of indecent assault, while Joseph Willis was convicted of one count of rape.
After the convictions, David Farrow was remanded into custody.
On September 11, the trio returned to Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing.
David Farrow, of Gregory Terrace in Fencehouses, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
He will also be registered for life on the Sex Offenders' Register and was issued a lifelong restraining order for the protection of the victim.
Susan Farrow, also of Gregory Terrace, received a sentence of 15 months in prison, will remain on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years, and was handed a lifelong restraining order.
Joseph Wills, of Borrowdale Street in Hetton-Le-Hole, was sentenced to seven years in prison, will be on the Sex Offenders' Register for life, and is subject to a lifelong restraining order.
The victim, who has the right to lifelong anonymity, expressed their suffering and trauma: "I have serious trust issues and really struggle with this when meeting new people.
I have anxiety and suffer from panic attacks.
I freeze at the thought of going back to where the abuse happened and have rarely been back since.
Whenever I see posts from the area on Facebook, I am triggered.
I chose to move away as I wanted to try and find some happiness again.
I always feel I am looking over my shoulder, which is an awful way to live.
I hope I can start to heal, return to the North East someday, and socialize with friends I have not seen for years.
This crime stole my childhood, affected my mental health, and damaged important relationships in my life.
I hope I can move forward one day." Northumbria Police's Det Con Jennifer Robinson led the investigation, praising the survivor for their bravery in disclosing the abuse.
Robinson emphasized that thanks to the victim's courage, these dangerous individuals are now behind bars and will be monitored closely.
She also issued a warning that such behavior has serious, lifelong consequences and reassured victims that support is available from police and charities.
Victims of any sexual abuse are encouraged to report through the Northumbria Police website or contact police directly.
2010 - In a case that has shocked the community of Hetton and the wider Newcastle area, David Farrow, a 45-year-old man from Market Street, Hetton, has been sentenced to a significant prison term after being found guilty of engaging in sexual activities with a minor.
The offences, which spanned over a year, involved a young girl who was only 14 years old when the inappropriate encounters began.
Farrow’s criminal history is troubling, as he previously served time for a rape conviction over two decades ago, during which he targeted another underage girl.
This history underscores a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior that has now culminated in his recent conviction.
The charges against Farrow included six counts of sexual activity with a child, relating to incidents that took place between September 2007 and December of the previous year.
During the court proceedings at Newcastle Crown Court, it was revealed that Farrow admitted to the charges, acknowledging his involvement in the misconduct.
When questioned by police following his arrest, Farrow attempted to justify his actions by claiming, “she came on to me,” a statement that was met with condemnation from the court.
The judge, John Evans, did not accept this explanation and delivered a stern sentence, sentencing Farrow to six years in prison, with an additional four years on licence, meaning he will be under supervision upon release.
In addition to his prison sentence, the court imposed an indefinite Sexual Offences Prevention Order (SOPO) on Farrow.
This order explicitly prohibits him from having any unsupervised contact with teenage girls, aiming to prevent any future harm.
Furthermore, Farrow is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and is permanently barred from working with children.
Judge Evans addressed Farrow directly during sentencing, stating, “It is clear you have an interest in post-pubescent girls.
That interest is a deviant interest.
There is no doubt in my mind that you do constitute a risk of committing further offences in future.” The court’s decision reflects the seriousness with which such offenses are regarded and the ongoing concern about the potential for reoffending by individuals with similar criminal histories.
