My brother was my rock after my son’s suicide tore my family apart… but he was raping my 14 year old daughter for a YEAR

When her world was turned upside down by the tragic loss of her 19-year-old son to suicide, Jessica James turned to the brother she always considered her best friend.

But the 38-year-old mother of five, from Neath Port Talbot, was left heartbroken when she discovered her ‘trusty’ brother had raped and abused her little girl even as he pretended to ‘comfort’ her.

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Craig Botterill, 32, He looked like the family’s “knight in shining armor” when he stepped in to help Jessica and her husband Denzil Williams, 48, as they grieved following the death of their son Cory. suicide In 2019.

In its place, Botterill preyed on Jessica’s eldest daughter, Shanice. He was 14 at the time, in the midst of his grief.

Botterill’s demonic campaign of abuse continued for over a year, and he even threatened Shanice that he would kill her like her brother if she told anyone.

A pedophile hiding in plain sight was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison. Now the family can’t wait to warn more people about him.

Jessica, a stay-at-home mom, says: “I thought my brother was amazing. He was an incredible Uncle Craig.

“But he really was a monster and I’m relieved he’s in prison now. Even though he will come out one day, I want to warn the world about him.

“Everybody should know he’s a dirty man rapistAnd what you did to my daughter.

“I also want to warn mothers to pay attention to these changes and danger signs in their children.”

happy family

Steelworker Jessica and Denzel have been together for 22 years.

In 2019, they became busy parents to Cory (then 19), Shanice (14), Gabriella (11), Brianie (8) and Teejay (7).

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“Throughout my marriage, Craig was Den’s best friend rather than his brother-in-law,” says Jessica.

“They worked together as steel workers.

“Craig was part of our family; He would come with us on every holiday and trip. He slept on the couch most weekends.

“By the way, Cory was my oldest son and his siblings adored him. Especially Shanice.

“They were both tied around her hips.”

However, in December of the same year, the family’s world was shattered when Cory committed suicide out of the blue.

He suffered depression For years, but his parents and siblings never saw it coming.

Jessica says: “Den found it in his bedroom. All of our hearts are shattered.

“Shanice, who was suddenly thrust into the role of big sibling, found it most difficult.

“Soon Den’s mental health deteriorated as what he saw that day would not leave him. He developed PTSD and depression.

“He started having suicidal thoughts and even tried it himself. Our family was about to break up.

“I leaned on my brother Craig because I couldn’t handle it.”

‘The best uncle’

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Jessica claims Botterill, a steelworker, swooped in for the family like a “knight in shining armor.”

While Jessica looked after her husband upstairs most evenings, Craig helped with the kids downstairs.

“He was the ultimate distraction, cheering them up on days out or watching movies,” says Jessica.

“Especially with Shanice. She called him her number one niece and was always cuddling her on the couch.

“She was his favourite. Shanice absolutely idolized him. It’s been that way since he was a baby.”

But as time went on, Jessica noticed a big change in Shanice.

‘Uncle Craig raped me,’ Shanice blurted out.

Jessica

In just two months she lost a size 4 and went from a size 14 to a size 6.

Jessica says: “I was so worried. I even took him to the GP and they did blood tests to check. Crohn’s disease. It came back negative.

“He told me he missed Cory and couldn’t eat much. He too had become very distant and withdrawn.

“Obviously he was facing Cory’s death the most. But before long, when Craig got here, Shanice would beg me to let him go to his grandmother.

“But Shanice wouldn’t normally go there. His behavior was becoming more confusing by the day.

“I told myself that everyone suffers in their own way.”

terrible revelation

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As time went on, although Jessica’s husband’s mental health improved, Shanice’s condition worsened.

In October 2021, nearly two years after Cory’s passing, Jessica went on a shopping trip with Botterill and Denzel.

“Craig had slept in the night before,” says Jessica.

“We went out to celebrate Halloween and Christmas. But Craig had been acting shifty and not very talkative all day in town.

“Suddenly my mother, who was looking after the children, called me and said that something bad had happened. He said I had to go home.

“Concerned, I put Craig and Den back in the car. On the way, I noticed Craig in the rearview mirror sweating profusely. It was very strange.

“When we arrived my mother saw Craig and shouted, ‘You better run or Den will kill you.’

“My heart sank, I had no idea what was happening. Den and I ran upstairs and found Shanice crying in the bedroom.

“His younger sister Gabriella was comforting him. Then Shanice blurted out ‘Uncle Craig raped me.’

“I felt dizzy and started vomiting. Den was crying hysterically, holding her like a baby.

“Then he saw red and ran downhill, chasing Craig down the road. He returned home minutes later, just as Craig had tracked him down.

“We were in a state of shock. “I couldn’t stop being sick, I trusted my brother.”

Bitter lies

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Trembling violently, Jessica immediately called the police.

Her daughter Gabriella later revealed how she caught Botterill raping Shanice on the family sofa the night before.

Shanice revealed that her uncle had been abusive to her since Cory died.

“Suddenly everything was fine,” says Jessica. How strange and distant weight loss he was.

“I attributed it to Cory’s passing, but in fact Craig had started abusing him at the height of our grief.

“The pain was too much to bear. Hours later, police officers arrested Craig at his home.

“Craig told them I made it up because I was jealous of his and Shanice’s relationship.

“It made me sick. “I didn’t know where the brother I knew and loved had gone.”

Twisted threats

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The family soon discovered that for more than a year, Botterill had been harassing Shanice throughout the house, whether the family was upstairs, asleep, or out.

He was also threatening Shanice with texts saying he would kill her “just like Cory did” and that it would be her fault if she told anyone.

“It broke my heart to hear how Craig attacked Shanice at our most vulnerable, darkest time,” Jessica says.

“It was just as hard as it was when I lost Cory. I begged Shanice to tell me why she didn’t tell me or her father.

“He said he didn’t want to hurt my father more because he was so sick. He felt trapped while we were all suffering.

“Meanwhile, Craig was released on bail and walked around as a free man for the next two years.

“He convinced half our family and friends that he was innocent and the charges were dropped, so he was reliving his life while my daughter’s life stopped.

“He became a recluse, afraid to leave home.

“My husband fell into depression again, and my other children were traumatized as well.”

Justice served

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Finally, in May 2024, the family was cross-examined. swansea Royal Court.

Craig Botterill, 32, of Baglan, was found guilty of one count of sexual assault, one count of sexual assault and rape of a child against Shanice.

He was sentenced to ten years in prison.

“Craig chuckled at the podium, showing not the slightest sign of remorse,” says Jessica. But the jury saw him as a perverted pedophile.

“The truth finally came out and everyone in town knew that my daughter and my family were not lying.

“Yes, he went to prison, but I would have been happy if he had fallen to his death.

“As a family now, we still love good old Uncle Craig. But when it comes to Craig, we hate him.

“I know Shanice, who is now 19, will live with this for the rest of her life. When I lost my brother.

“But he will get over this trauma and we will be reunited as a family.

“Shanice says I’ve been her rock during this time, but she can’t look in the mirror without seeing what her uncle is doing to her.

“He wants me to speak out to tell other survivors not to be afraid to go home to their families. I wish he had done this sooner.”

If any of the issues raised in this article affect you, please call Samaritans free on 116123.