Bravery of sexual abuse victims brings vile paedophile to justice 30 years after crimes

The bravery and resilience of three women has led to a vile paedophile being locked up for two decades.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Joseph Marcus Wall targeted three separate pre-teen girls and subjected each to years of disgusting sexual abuse.

Wall is now 73 years old but has been brought to justice after his victims confided in police in 2019.

Northumbria Police began an investigation and Wall was interviewed in 2020. He was later charged with 22 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape.

He denied all guilt, but a jury of his peers saw through his selfish lies and he was found guilty of all 23 offences at Newcastle Crown Court recently.

Last Friday, July 8, after hearing the emotional statements from the victims, a judge at that same court sentenced Wall, who has since moved from the Force area and lives in Leaside, Bucks, to 22 years behind bars with a further two years on licence.

Detective Constable Kirsti Bunch, of Northumbria Police’s Safeguarding Department, has supported the victims throughout the investigation and court proceedings.

She said: “The abuse these women suffered as young girls was nothing short of horrific. No one deserves to go through life with the impact of such treatment casting such a large shadow over their present and future.

“I am in awe of their bravery and so proud of each of them for speaking out. Thanks to them, their abuser is now behind bars.

“No sentence will ever take away the pain fully but I do hope that knowing he will spend his retirement years behind bars and stripped of all home comforts, with nothing to do all day but contemplate his despicable actions, will provide the three survivors with some form of justice as they move forward.

“These were historic reports of abuse but no matter how much time has passed, we are here for you. We can offer support and will do everything in our power to help give victims the strength to realise they are survivors and get the justice they deserve.”

If any of these issues have affected you, support is available from Newcastle Women's Trust here and from Mind is here.