It was to have been the holiday of a lifetime.

But just weeks after their fortnight in the Gambia, the country known as the smiley coast of Africa, the family of floods hero Craig Stenton were facing heartbreak and devastation.

Craig took his own life, leaving Debbie, his wife of 22 years, and their 14-year-old son devastated by the tragedy.

An inquest into Craig's death, held on April 30th, found that he had hanged himself after worrying about spiralling debts and thinking his wife had a holiday fling in Africa.

A photocopy of what police described as a "cheesy love letter", sent from the Gambia, was found in his pocket.

Yet the letter had actually been sent to his mother-in-law, Lesley Parkin.

Her name had been Tipp-exed out and Debbie's had been written in by an unknown hand.

At the bottom of the letter – signed by a man named Samba Jello – was a note added in biro by Craig which read: "You have your wish. I am out of your life forever."

Debbie's mother Lesley is adamant that "her daughter never put a foot wrong in 22 years of marriage" - and that the letter sent to her had nothing to do with Debbie, or with Craig's death.

"My daughter didn't have an affair," says Lesley.

"I was with Debbie and Craig on that holiday. I know what went on.

People are saying Craig believed the letter was for Debbie - and that's what drove him to kill himself.

"But I really don't believe that. I showed him the letter when it arrived and we both laughed about it. He thought it was hilarious.

"We both thought it might have been sent a joke by one of the couples we had met. He asked me if he could take it to show Debbie; he definitely wasn't taking it seriously at that stage. That was a week before his death and I thought no more about it until it was brought up at the inquest into his death."

Lesley shudders at the memory of the hearing.

"In court members of Craig's family took the opportunity to quiz Debbie about the letter. It was a horrible ordeal. And ever since, people have been saying Craig's death was all her fault.

"It is so cruel. She misses Craig so much. At the same time, she is trying to look after Bradlee, who is devastated by the loss of his dad.

"I am very worried about her. She needs support to get through this but people seem intent on making her life even more of a misery. They seem to want to believe gossip and rumour rather than me or Debbie. Craig's family have turned against her, that's the worst thing for her. And it's all because of that letter. They believe that there's no smoke without fire.

"Debbie knows how much his family are hurting. She doesn't want to say anything that is going to cause them any more distress. but no one seems to be thinking about Debbie's.

"She is my baby and I am speaking out because I want to protect her from the nasty things people are saying and thinking.

"I would love to know who sent that letter and why someone wrote her name on it. I'd like to tell them just how much trouble and heartbreak they have caused."

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