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 had always considered her best friend.

But the 38-year-old mother-of-five, from Neath Port Talbot, was left heartbroken when she discovered her “trustworthy” brother had raped and abused her young daughter even as he pretended to “comfort” her.

8

8

Craig Botterill, 32 years old, He appeared to be the family’s “knight in shining armor” when he stepped in to help Jessica and her husband Denzil Williams, 48, as they mourned their son Cory after his suicide in 2019.

Instead, Botterill took advantage of Jessica’s eldest daughter, Shanice, who was 14 years old at the time, in the midst of his pain.

Botterill’s evil campaign of abuse lasted more than a year, and he even threatened Shanice with suicide like her brother if she told anyone.

The pedophile, who hid in plain sight, was recently sentenced to 10 years. Now the family are desperate to warn more people about him.

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

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

“Everyone needs to know what a dirty rapistand what he did to my daughter.

“I also want to warn moms to be on the lookout for these changes and warning signs in their children.”

happy family

Jessica and Denzel, a steelworker, have been together for 22 years.

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

8

Jessica says: “During my marriage, Craig was more of Den’s best friend than his brother-in-law.

“They worked together as steelworkers.

“Craig was part of our family and traveled with us on all vacations and trips. Most weekends I slept on the couch.

“Meanwhile, Cory was my oldest son and his brothers adored him. Especially Shanice.

“They were both attached at the hip.”

But in December of that year, the family’s world fell apart when Cory committed suicide out of the blue.

He had suffered from depression for years, but his parents and siblings never saw it coming.

Jessica says, “Den found it in his room. All our hearts were broken.

“Suddenly, Shanice was forced to become the big sister and she took it the hardest.

“Soon Den’s mental health deteriorated because what he had seen that day would not leave him. the development post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

“He began to have suicidal thoughts, even once trying it himself. Our family was falling apart.

“Unable to cope, I leaned on my brother Craig.”

‘Best uncle’

8

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

As Jessica took care of her husband most nights upstairs, Craig helped with the children downstairs.

Jessica says: “He was the best distraction, cheering them up with days off or watching movies.

“Especially with Shanice. He called her his number one niece and always hugged her on the couch.

“She was his favorite. While Shanice absolutely idolized him. “It had been like that since I was a baby.”

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

Shanice blurted out, “Uncle Craig raped me.”

Jessica

In just two months, she lost fourth place and went from size 14 to size 6.

Jessica says: “I was very worried. I even took her to the family doctor and they did blood tests to check if crohn’s disease. It tested negative.

“She told me she just missed Cory and couldn’t eat much. She had become very distant and withdrawn as well.

“She was clearly taking Cory’s death harder. But soon, when Craig came over, Shanice would beg me to let her go to her grandmother.

“But Shanice normally didn’t go there. His behavior became more confusing every day.

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

Horrible revelation

8

Time passed, and while Jessica’s husband’s mental health improved, Shanice’s worsened.

In October 2021, almost two years after Cory’s death, Jessica went shopping with Botterill and Denzel.

Jessica says: “Craig had stayed over the night before.

“We go out for Halloween and Christmas moments. But all day in town, Craig was acting sly and wasn’t being as talkative as himself.

“Suddenly my mother, who was taking care of the children, called me and told me that something bad had happened. She said she needed to get home.

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

“When we arrived, Mom saw Craig and screamed, ‘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 in her room, sobbing.

“Her younger sister Gabriella was comforting her. Then Shanice blurted out, “Uncle Craig raped me.”

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

“Then he saw red and ran down the stairs, chasing Craig down the road. Minutes later, he returned home, just as Craig had done.

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

bitter lies

8

Shaking violently, Jessica called the police immediately.

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

Shanice revealed that her uncle had been abusing her since Cory died.

Jessica says: “Suddenly everything clicked. How strange and distant she was, weight loss.

“I attributed it to Cory’s passing when, in reality, Craig had begun abusing her 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 he was making it up because he was jealous of his relationship with Shanice.

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

Twisted threats

8

The family soon discovered that Botterill had been abusing Shanice for more than a year, throughout the house, while the family was upstairs, sleeping or outside.

He had also been threatening Shanice through messages that he would kill himself “just like Cory did” and that if she told anyone, it would be her fault.

Jessica says: “Hearing how Craig took advantage of Shanice at our most vulnerable and darkest moment broke me.

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

“He said that since dad was very bad, he didn’t want to hurt him any more. She felt trapped while we were all grieving.

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

“He convinced half of our family and friends that he was innocent and the charges were dropped, hence why he was living his life again while my baby’s life was on hold.

“She became a recluse, terrified to leave the house.

“My husband became depressed again and my other children were also traumatized.”

justice is done

8

Finally, in May 2024, the family was questioned in Swansea Crown Court.

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

He was sentenced to ten years.

Jessica says: “Craig laughed on the stand, without showing even a hint of remorse. But the jury saw him for the twisted pedophile he was.

“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 he would have been happy if he had dropped dead.

“Now, as a family, we still love good old Uncle Craig. But as for this Craig, we hate him.

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

“But she will get through this trauma and we have each other as family.

“Shanice says I’ve been her support through all of this, but she can’t look in the mirror without seeing what her uncle did to her.

“He wants me to speak out and tell other survivors not to be afraid to talk to their families. I wish I had done it sooner.”

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call Samaritans free of charge on 116123.