The Letter: My 50 Year Fight For Justice

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."