April 2010 Couple jailed for child abuse A SADISTIC couple were behind bars yesterday for torturing and bullying four children during a 17-year reign of terror. David Walsh, 57, and his wife Valerie, 46, Parrs Wood Road, Burnage subjected their victims to horrific physical abuse during the sex-fuelled beatings.  David Walsh repeatedly attacked the children while his wife Valerie encouraged him over a prolonged period of time The three girls and a boy were beaten, gagged and scalded with cutlery that had been left in boiling water.  Their ordeal, lasting from 1980 to 1997, only came to light in March last year when one told the police.  At Manchester crown court, David Walsh was jailed for 10 years after being found guilty of four charges of child cruelty, 12 of assault and two of indecent assault.  Valerie Walsh admitted four counts of child cruelty, three assaults and one indecent assault. She was sentenced to seven years.  The pair, from Burnage, were placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and banned from working with children.  Judge Jonathan Geake told them: “The victims in this case suffered terrible abuse at your hands.”