The sister of murdered Deal mum-of-three Debbie Griggs has slammed her “cruel” killer for keeping her sons in a “state of delusion”.

Wendie Rowlinson, who now lives in New Zealand, has released a statement to KentOnline wishing her estranged nephews the "best of luck" with their social media search for their mother.

Their sailor father Andrew, 57, was jailed for 20 years in October for her murder and he was accused by the judge of dumping her body out at sea.

The boys, who firmly believe their mother is still alive, set up a ‘Find Our Mum’ page on Facebook in the days following their father’s conviction.

Now Mrs Rowlinson says her family would apologise to Debbie’s sons if she was ever found alive.

But she believes if police were not able to find the missing mum from Deal over the past two decades, the brothers stand little to no chance.

Debbie went missing in May 1999 when Jeremy, Jake and Luke were just aged six, four and 18 months.

Her family welcomed Griggs’ conviction and they made a public plea to him to reveal where he put her body.

Mrs Rowlinson said: “I think their father is cruel to keep them in this state of delusion.

“He should think of those boys and tell them the truth. One day, they will realise and they will hate him for it.”

The Cameron family say they were informed by police in early November that the boys would be starting the ‘Find Our Mum’ page.

It was launched the same month, with Debbie’s three sons writing: “This page has been launched for the sole purpose of finding our mum, Debbie Elizabeth Griggs (Cameron) who we believe was not murdered by our father but is still alive. It has not been set up to cause upset or distress.”

In their latest post - addressed directly to their mother - on January 26, they write: “We have no reason to disbelieve dad and don’t know why you chose to leave us but, if you loved us as much as everyone says you did, you must’ve had good reason.

“One of us saw you watching us soon after we moved so we know you care. Please just let us know that you’re okay.”

Mrs Rowlinson said: “There was no mention of the supposed watching incident in court.

“It couldn’t have been by the baby and way back then I’m sure those wee boys were constantly looking for their mother coming home.

“We know they didn’t, couldn’t have seen her. But whether this a made up story today or a dream, a wish in the mind of a small child, it’s one I totally understand.”

She continued: “I wish them the best of luck but if the police, with all their resources couldn’t find Debbie after extensive searches over the past 20 years, and us with our Debbie Griggs is Missing Facebook page, I don’t see how they think they can.

“However, I, we Camerons, will happily apologise, for any distress caused to the boys, upon proof of Debbie being found alive.

“We sadly, have not been given the opportunity to remain in contact with the boys, or they may have had a different view to Debbie than the one they now have, one that told them of a loving mother.

“The boys were Debbie’s life, Debbie’s absolute joy. She was strict but adoring and caring, whose love for the boys shone brightly.

“Their father may have helped them grow this past 20 years, something Debbie should have been able to do, but when they were small their mother was their world, as they were hers.”

During the trial last October, Mrs Rowlinson said her family were instructed not to speak with Debbie’s sons while in court.

She said: “Had they have been in court daily, as my family and I were, they would have heard all the evidence, the domestic, mental abuse from their mother’s affidavit, obviously made beforehand, they would have heard their father, try and fail, to make their mother look bad.”

The prosecution had argued Griggs murdered Debbie - four-and-a-half months pregnant with their fourth child - after she found out about an affair he was having with a 15-year-old.

But Griggs insisted she had left the family home in a rage after he came home from work and fell asleep.

Her car - a white Peugeot 309 - was found abandoned days after her disappearance, 1.3 miles from their home in Cross Road, Walmer.

Contact was lost between Debbie Griggs’ sons and their maternal family after they moved away from Deal to Dorset while still young, their aunty claims.

Wendie Rowlinson waited until the eldest Jeremy was 16 before she made attempts to contact him again.

In a conversation dated April 15, 2009 - seen by this newspaper - Jeremy appeared receptive to finding out more about his mother.

Mrs Rowlinson said: “Sadly, he had to ask who I was! And upon seeing a photo of his mother and me, asked, “Are you on the left or the right and who is the other person?”

“He also asked if Debbie was pregnant.

“After a few questions and answers, he then blocked me, until just recently.”

She believes these questions and “many more” should have been answered by their father.

She said: “Andrew chose to let the memories of Debbie fade, until thrust into the headlines by his arrest.

“Now, having missed their father for one Christmas, they attempt to find Debbie, by starting this page.

“They believe there has been a miscarriage of justice and their father did not murder Debbie.

“They miss him; did they not miss their mother for 20 years?

“Why did they not try to find her some five or 10 years back, when they were old enough to understand?”

KentOnline has contacted the ‘Find Our Mum’ page for a response.

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