SUNDERLAND WOMAN AND HER PARTNER JAILED FOR HISTORIC CHILD SEX OFFENCES
A married woman named Susan Farrow, aged 52, and her accomplice Joseph Willis, 74, along with her husband David Farrow, 60, were convicted of sexually abusing a child in the 1990s.According to the report, David Farrow was found guilty of 11 offences, including seven counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault, with the incidents occurring before the Sexual Offences Act was introduced in 2003.
Susan Farrow was convicted of one count of indecent assault, and Joseph Willis was found guilty of one count of rape.
The victim, who has the right to lifelong anonymity, read a statement in court that expressed ongoing struggles with trust, anxiety, and panic attacks, stating: '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 the area where the abuse happened and have rarely been back since it happened.
Whenever I see posts from the area on Facebook, I am triggered.
I chose to move away as I wanted to try and get some happiness back in my life.
I always feel I am looking over my shoulder which is an awful way to have to live your life.
I am hoping I can now start to heal and one day return to the North East and socialise with friends I have not seen for years.
This crime stole my childhood, affected my mental health and damaged the important relationships in my life.
I do hope one day I will be able to move on from this.' The investigation was led by Det Con Jennifer Robinson from Northumbria Police's Safeguarding Department.
She praised the victim's bravery, saying: 'First and foremost, I'd like to praise the survivor in this case for the courage and composure they have shown during this investigation and the lengthy criminal proceedings which have followed.
I know this can't have been an easy thing to go through and re-live.
It is thanks to their bravery in disclosing what happened to police that these three dangerous and predatory individuals are now behind bars and will be closely monitored by police.' The offenders were sentenced on September 11, with David Farrow jailed for 20 years, placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life, and given a lifelong restraining order.
Susan Farrow was sentenced to 15 months in prison, also on the Sex Offenders' Register for 10 years and with a lifelong restraining order.
Joseph Wills received a sentence of seven years, was placed on the Sex Offenders' Register for life, and was also given a lifelong restraining order.
