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The Letter

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The Letter

By: Sarah Sidebottom, Ann Cusack
Narrated by: Charlotte Worthing
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About this listen

Co-written by the writer of Sunday Times bestsellers The Asylum, The Convent, Silent Sisters and Abandoned

Harrowing emotional story of horrific sexual abuse at the hands of a father

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.

©2024 Ann Cusack and Sarah Sidebottom (P)2024 W. F. Howes Ltd Abuse Child Abuse Dysfunctional Families Parenting & Families Relationships

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Sarah's abuse was the kind few come out of without a deeply difficult journey to healing and finding hope. It is so true, that family is not always who we are born into but those we surround ourselves with in finding the way forward....she has much to offer other survivors and I'm sure she will....and on a personal note, I say don't visit your father and brother....xo

An honest and brave truth that survival after hellish trauma is tough but possible.

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Powerful & truly heartbreaking true story. Sarah's childhood was one of pure evil by the people that should have been her protectors. I'm so glad your had your Granparents, Husband Daughters & friends there to watch over you. As you deserve so much happiness & love as your childhood was stolen & trampled on in the most abhorrent way. Well done you

Harrowing story but so aspiring beautiful Warrior Sarah

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This story is simply raw, but I believe it needed to be told. Well done Sarah, good luck for your continued recovery

what a brave lady 👏

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very triggering for me but also very therapeutic. well written and well read. thank you for sharing.

heartbreaking

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As the title suggests, this is a very hard read, but read we all must, if not, this despicable behaviour will go on into the future as it has been covered up in the past.

A very hard read but the narrator deserves her story to be listened!

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