A married couple and their buddy, David Farrow and Susan Farrow and Joseph Willis, who perpetrated sexual assault on a child in the 1990s, have been incarcerated.
David Farrow, 60, his spouse, Susan Farrow, 52, and their acquaintance, Joseph Willis, 74, were held accountable due to the courage of the victim who reported the incident over two decades later.
The magnitude of the misconduct was revealed following the victim’s complaint of the abuse perpetrated by David Farrow and Susan Farrow and Joseph Willis in the Sunderland region. In October 2022, all three individuals were indicted for their involvement in the abuse.
After two trials at Newcastle Crown Court in April 2024 and April 2025, David Farrow was convicted of 11 offences, comprising seven charges of rape and four counts of indecent assault, as the acts transpired prior to the enactment of the Sexual Offences Act in 2003.
Susan Farrow was convicted of one crime of indecent assault, while Joseph Willis was convicted of one count of rape.
Subsequent to the convictions, David Farrow was detained in jail.
On Thursday, September 11, David Farrow and Susan Farrow and Joseph Willis went to Newcastle Crown Court for sentencing.
David Farrow, residing in Gregory Terrace, Fencehouses, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
He will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life and has been issued a lifelong restraining order to safeguard the victim.
Susan Farrow, residing in Gregory Terrace, Fencehouses, was sentenced to 15 months in prison.
She will additionally be placed on the Sex Offenders’ Register for a duration of 10 years and has been issued a lifelong restraining order to safeguard the victim.
Joseph Willis, residing on Borrowdale Street in Hetton-Le-Hole, received a seven-year prison sentence.
He will remain on the Sex Offender’s Register for life and has been issued a lifelong restraining order to safeguard the victim.
The brave victim (survivor), who has the right to lifelong anonymity, provided the following words to be read in court as the trio were sentenced.
They said: “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 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.”
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