PAUL WALLIS SENTENCED IN CANTERBURY FOR DECADES OF ABUSE AGAINST HIS NIECES

Two sisters from Canterbury have courageously come forward to share their harrowing experiences of sustained sexual abuse inflicted by their grandfather, Paul Wallis. Their testimonies, which they have chosen to waive anonymity for, shed light on a deeply disturbing chapter of their lives that they hope will inspire other victims to find the strength to speak out.

Paul Wallis, aged 66, was formally sentenced to seven years in prison during a hearing at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday. The court proceedings revealed a pattern of predatory behavior that spanned many years, beginning when the girls were just children. During their stays at their grandparents’ residence in Sturry, Kent, Wallis would repeatedly invade their personal boundaries in a manner that was both invasive and deeply traumatic.

The sisters, Sophie, now 22, and Toni Quirke, 20, recounted how their childhood weekends were once filled with innocent activities such as baking, playing games, and doing puzzles. These moments took place at their father’s parents’ home, a place they described as a safe haven before the abuse began. Toni reminisced, saying, 'They’d take us shopping, spoil us... grandparenty things.' Sophie added, 'Our grandad was more of a dad to us than our own dad was. His presence made me feel instantly safe and everything else melted away. He was my hero. Until, one day, that changed.'

It was when they were around eight and six years old that the abuse first occurred. The sisters recall waking up one night to find someone in bed between them. Sophie described the chilling realization: 'It clicked that it was my grandad. I could smell what I now know is alcohol on someone’s breath. He was tickling my back and I tried to fall back to sleep. He then put his hand into my knickers and started trying to touch me. I said ‘no’ and moved away, and he took his hand away. I rolled over and said ‘I think you should go get in bed with nan now grandad,’ and he got up and he left.'

In the aftermath of that night, Sophie and Toni looked at each other with a mixture of confusion and fear, questioning whether their grandfather had touched Toni as well. Sophie recalled, ‘Did grandad just put his hands on you too?’ Toni confirmed, ‘Yes,’ and they instinctively went back to sleep, unaware at the time that these acts constituted sexual abuse. As they grew older, the girls began to understand the gravity of what had happened, but the behavior persisted, leading to increasing discomfort and distress.

Over the years, the sisters experienced a range of emotional and psychological struggles. Sophie, in particular, fell into depression, engaging in self-harm, smoking, drinking, and frequent arguments with her mother. At 14, she moved in with her father, who is Wallis’s son, and later with her grandparents, but she constantly felt on edge. Sophie described how her grandfather’s drunken episodes made him particularly ‘handsy,’ often grabbing and smacking her bottom. She recounted, ‘I lost count of the number of nights that I hid under the covers in my bed pretending I was asleep, just so I wouldn’t have to smell his alcohol breath on my face as he forced me to give him a ‘real kiss’. I learned to shower in five minutes, so I didn’t have to have my clothes off for too long.'

Toni, who visited her grandparents on weekends, also recalls pretending to be unwell to leave early, driven by a growing sense of fear. She explained, ‘This fear of being with my grandad when he drank evolved and I started to see all men as a threat to me, especially if they had been drinking. I was very wary around men - I still am.’ Both sisters struggled to reconcile the image of their grandfather as a loving figure who showered them with treats with the man who had violated them. Sophie reflected, ‘He was this amazing man - our safe space - but then at the same time he was our abuser.’

For many years, the sisters kept their ordeal secret, fearing the repercussions for their family if they spoke out. However, in the summer of 2015, when Sophie was 16, she found the courage to confide in her mother, Canterbury city councillor Louise Harvey-Quirke, about the abuse. Toni followed suit shortly after. Their mother described the revelation as a ‘bombshell,’ stating, ‘I absolutely worshipped Paul. I saw him as my dad. He was so genuine, so caring. But as soon as the girls made their allegation, it put everything into question, all his motives.’

Following their disclosures, Wallis was arrested in spring 2016. During the investigation, four other victims came forward, revealing that Wallis had committed similar acts over a span of more than three decades, from 1984 to 2016. The impact on Sophie has been profound; her mental health has significantly deteriorated, leading to multiple suicide attempts. She described her struggles: ‘For years, I never slept soundly because I would have nightmares and would wake up screaming. I hardly ate. I became a recluse and couldn’t hold down a job. The only time I left the house was to go drinking.’

Despite her ongoing battles, Sophie now expects her first child, a development she credits with helping her find a measure of stability and hope. Nevertheless, she continues to grapple with severe anxiety and difficulty forming relationships. Toni remains deeply affected by her grandfather’s abuse as well. She expressed feelings of lost confidence, saying, ‘I feel like I have lost the confidence I had before all of this began. I struggle to talk about anything intimate and I don’t feel that I show love. I know that I am very emotionally closed off and distant, and this is something that hurts my mother.’ Toni aspires to become a dancer but finds it challenging to wear leotards around men or tolerate being touched, feeling that her grandfather’s actions have cast a long shadow over her ambitions. ‘I feel that my grandad’s actions are preventing me from doing what I love,’ she admitted.

On Friday, the court heard the emotional testimonies of the sisters and four other victims as Wallis sat silently in the dock, visibly affected by the proceedings. The prosecution detailed how Wallis would often insist that children in his care kiss him on the lips and that he had assaulted some of them while they slept. Prosecutor Peter Forbes stated that Wallis’s offending was often linked to his intoxication, with opportunities arising when he was drunk. One victim recounted how she resorted to self-harm following the abuse, saying, ‘My life has been changed by this predator Paul Wallis. I feel revulsion and shudder at the memories.’

Other victims described suffering from flashbacks, declining mental health, and strained relationships as adults. Judge Catherine Brown sentenced Wallis to seven years in prison, condemning his actions as ‘lecherous’ and criticizing his limited insight and remorse. She emphasized that Wallis had been selfish, disregarding the vulnerability of his victims, some of whom were asleep or otherwise unable to defend themselves. Wallis had pleaded guilty to three counts of indecent assault, sexually assaulting a child under 13, and four counts of sexual activity with a child. Additional charges of sexual offenses remain on file.

Both sisters and the other victims expressed gratitude to the police for their diligent work. Sophie stated, ‘Hopefully, we’ll now be able to move on and have the closure we’ve been so desperate for.’ Toni added, ‘This case has consumed my entire life. Over the last six years I have watched it destroy my sister and tear my mother apart. I am so proud of all of the victims. I am happy that we all got to say what we needed to when it mattered the most.’

Their mother praised her daughters’ bravery, saying, ‘I am incredibly proud of my girls. They have been strong, brave, and undeterred throughout. I hope all of the victims can now find peace and begin to sleep a little easier.’

Sophie and Toni hope their story will serve as a powerful reminder that abuse can happen within families and that survivors should not remain silent. Sophie urged, ‘You may not think that these things happen in families or that it would ever happen in your family, but it does happen. We know how hard it is to speak up, but once you’ve done it you’re going to be OK. There is always a light at the end of the tunnel, even if you don’t feel like there is. You’re not alone.’

If anyone is concerned about a child's safety, they are encouraged to contact the NSPCC’s professional counselors for help, advice, and support at 0808 8005000 or via email at [email protected].