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JLS help child rape victim smile again

Boyband and X Factor rejects, JLS, have been praised for giving a young rape victim hope again. The child’s mother has also nominated the band for a New of the World Children’s Champions Award.

Five years ago the little girl, who cannot be named, was kidnapped and raped by paedophile Craig Sweeney, she was just three years old at the time.

Her mum has now credited the boys for helping her daughter emerge from her continuing nightmare. She told the News of the World: “These wonderful boys have quite literally put the smile back on my little girls face.

“It’s down to the friendship of these fantastic young men that her self-esteem has rocketed and she’s glad she’s alive.”

Since her attack counsellors have struggled to unburden the girl and help her move on with her life.

But her mum remembers a breakthrough came when they first met the JLS boys – Oritse Williams, Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes and JB Gil – almost two years ago.

 “Until then she was so morose,” her mum said. “She never smiled or took pleasure in anything. None of us could reach her.

“Then she told us how much she liked JLS. Their songs made her want to dance. When we heard they were performing nearby in Cardiff we asked if they could do something special. We expected no more than a signed photo. But after the show we were ushered to the dressing room.”

The little girl’s jaw dropped as she saw her idols, who had big smiles on their faces.

Her mum added: “Ortise asked me to tell him more about what had happened and as I spoke I could see tears rolling down his cheeks.

“When I’d told him everything he walked over to Anne*, bent down so he could put his arms round her and told her ‘you’re a special girl’.

“It was one of the most moving experiences of my life.”

The meeting immediately impacted the little girl.

“For the next few days she was much happier,” added her mum. “The biggest breakthrough was seeing her smile.”

Since then the singers have stayed in regular contact with her, seeing her five times in the last 10 months alone.

The youngster told the News of the World: “They’ll always be my heroes and I hope they win for the happy times they’ve given me.”

*Anne is not the little girl’s real name but a made up name used in the News of the World story.

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