'Free me' call by child sex offender dying of cancer

David Farlow, previously of 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 North East.

The 69-year-old, who has prostate cancer, appeared at London's Criminal Appeal Court earlier this week 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, according to the solicitor.

He added: "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.

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