The Letter

Sarah Sidebottom was repeatedly raped by both her father and her brother as a child has secured justice thanks to a forgotten letter. Sarah Sidebottom, 54, was raped and sexually abused by her father, Arthur William Bowditch, and her brother, Arthur Stephen Bowditch. They were jailed in 2022 for a total of 32 years. The first attack, when she was just three and a half years old, left Sarah needing surgery to repair internal damage. A decades-old letter from her doctor proved crucial in securing a conviction for the abuse, which began almost 50 years go. Sarah, 54, now happily married and a mum of two, runs a charity for ex-army veterans with her husband, Darren, himself a former soldier, in Barnsley, South Yorks. She's even been a guest at Buckingham palace in her charity role - a far cry from the suffering of her early years. Sarah also shares a special bond with her dog, Kayla, a German Shepherd, who saved her life when she has felt unable to carry on. She says: "I had no idea about the surgery until 2021, and I saw my medical records. I was horrified, but at the same time, this was exactly what the prosecution needed to build a case against my father. After staying silent for nearly 50 years, part of my healing process is having a voice and speaking out."