Milly Dowler's sister Gemma opens up about schoolgirl's death

In 2002, 13-year-old schoolgirl Milly Dowler was abducted on her way home from school in Walton-On-Thames, Surrey, with Levi Bellfield – now named Yusuf Rahmin – being found guilty of Milly’s abduction, rape and murder and jailed for life in June 2011.

Now Milly’s sister Gemma Dowler has bravely opened up about the heartache her family suffered following Milly’s murder in new book ‘My Sister Milly’.

Speaking ahead of the book’s release on The One Show last night, Gemma admitted that she “lost her childhood” when Milly disappeared, explaining: “I knew as soon as the police were called I knew I was never going to see Milly again.

“On the night she went missing, the next morning I lost my childhood.

“My family and friends, everyone went into trauma at different times. No-one knew how to talk to each other.

“I felt so shut away, so desperate. The only thing I wanted to do was find my sister.”

Gemma also revealed that her inconsolable mother wanted a suicide pact with her family if Bellfield was not found guilty.

She continued: “My mum said if he wasn’t found guilty, she wanted a joint suicide pact – it was that bad.

“This was the level we were trying to live with.

“Even when he was found guilty I didn’t know where mum could find help.”

Gemma now hopes to reclaim Milly’s memory with her book, explaining: “I hope that I have been able to bring her back to life in this book.

“I feel like she’s almost standing here now saying: ‘Thank you for doing this.'”

‘My Sister Milly’ is out now.