July 2016

Paedophile Lichfield teacher dying of cancer pleads for early release from jail

A FORMER teacher jailed for a string of sex crimes against three young children is bidding for freedom – because he is dying of cancer.

David Farlow, of Trafalgar Way, Lichfield, says he may only have months to live and he doesn’t want to die behind bars.

Farlow was locked up for eight years at Teesside Crown Court in January after he admitted 12 crimes against three girls, who were all under 14 years old at the time.

The offences, which included indecency with a child, indecent assault and attempted rape, were all committed between 1965 and 1980 in the Stockton-on-Tees area.

The 69-year-old, who has prostate cancer, appeared on Wednesday (July 20) at London’s Criminal Appeal Court over a video-link from prison to challenge his jail term.

His lawyers argued eight years was “too long” in light of his failing health – which they said means he is likely to die in prison.

Peter McCartney, representing Farlow, told the court: “He plainly has a life-limiting illness.

“Depending on the aggressiveness of the cancer, his surgeon said his life expectancy could be as little as 12 months.

“Well, we have passed that now, but the average he gave was 43 months.”

Mr McCartney also said the victim impact statement put in by one of Farlow’s victims should have been treated with caution.

It could not be known whether the abuse was the root cause of all of that woman’s problems in later life.

He added: “Plainly she had problems in her life and plainly, from her witness statement, she has attributed those problems to what David Farlow did to her.

“It may be that some of those problems were the result of what she suffered at his hands, but self-attribution of all those ills that befell her is a very difficult thing to quantify.”

The barrister also argued the judge didn’t take enough account of the fact Farlow had lived an unblemished life after his last offence in 1980.

Farlow’s challenge was heard by five of the country’s top judges – including the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Thomas – along with a number of other appeals by sex offenders.

The judges reserved giving a decision on the case until a later date.

January 2016

Paedophile teacher jailed for string of child sexual abuse offences

A brave woman who was the victim of an attempted rape as a child faced her attacker in court telling him she has “reclaimed control” as she watched a judge jail him for eight years.

Former teacher David Farlow, 68, who has prostate cancer, was jailed for a string of “vile” sex crimes against three children from 1965 to 1980.

The court heard how the three victims kept the assaults, which happened in Stockton, a secret for more than 40 years.

Judge Stephen Ashurst said: “The truth is now out and the dark shadow that has been hanging over these women may be beginning to lift”

And one of the victim’s – the first to bravely come forward – attended Teesside Crown Court to watch her attacker sentenced.

In emotional scenes, she stood up to read out a powerful victim impact statement to her attacker.

She said: “I wanted to be in court today to have the strength to face my perpetrator and for him to know it was me who told.

“I wanted to reclaim control. I want him to hurt, to be scared, to feel loneliness, despair and anguish as I have done.

“I want others to hate him as I have hated myself.”

The court heard that all three victims were aged under 14 when the incidents happened. Farlow was aged at 17 when he started the abuse.

One of the victims was aged just nine when the abuse started.

Police fear there were more victims who have not yet come forward.

Prosecutor Shaun Dodds told the court Farlow was convicted in court in 1974 for indecent abuse but the true extent of his behaviour was not unearthed and he was fined £200 and was given a probation order.

He was described as a “respectable” man in the area where he lived with character references given to the judge

Judge Ashurst said: “What they are unaware of is the other side of your life it goes back 35 years ago and memories of what happened then have not faded in respect of the three women.”

The court heard that in relation to each victim there was a “large age gap” between Farlow and the children.

The court was told that Farlow was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year.

Farlow, who now lives in Lichfield, Staffordshire, was charged with 16 offences and admitted 12 – the rest will remain on file. The offences include indecency with a child under the age of 14, indecent assault on a child under 14 and one of attempted rape.

Sentencing him Judge Ashurst also ordered for Farlow to be the subject of an indefinite notification requirement as part of the sex offences act and he was given a sexual harm prevention order.

January 2015

Former teacher admits repeatedly sexually assaulting two young girls

A former Teesside teacher today admitted repeatedly sexually assaulting two young girls going back nearly 50 years.

David Farlow carried out the attacks in Stockton when the girls were aged between nine and 12.

One of the 67-year-old’s victims from 1974 sat in the public gallery at Teesside Crown Court as he entered pleas to 16 sex charges dating back to July 1, 1965.

Farlow, who now lives in Staffordshire, pleaded not guilty to raping a third girl between February 1973 and August 1975.

The judge ordered him to sign the Sex Offender’s Register before leaving court which means that he must notify police where he is living and inform authorities of his convictions.

He now faces a five-day trial starting March 23 for offences which he has denied.

Judge Howard Crowson told Farlow: “It does seem likely that there will be a trial, preparations are well in hand for that.”

Prosecutor Christine Egerton said earlier: “The pleas will be reviewed, and there will be special measures (for the complainants).”

Farlow pleaded guilty to gross indecency and indecent assault on the first girl between July and August 1965 when she was aged 12.

He admitted eight similar offences on the second girl aged between 10 and 12 and he denied five more.

Farlow faced the single charge of rape against the third girl, which he denied.

Some of the charges were described as specimen offences covering attacks which happened on more than one occasion.

He has no previous convictions.

Farlow, of St Chad House, Trafalgar Way, Lichfield, had his bail extended with conditions banning him from contacting directly or indirectly the complainants or any prosecution witnesses.