Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism > UK Media Archive
SUNDAY SUN 14 MAR 95 Snatch court case brings cult girl and mum back together A NORTH mum has been reunited with her daughter who signed a billion-year contract with a religious sect. Pensioner Margaret Wilson and 23-year-old Kathleen hugged in the courtroom where a North man is accused of trying to kidnap the young woman from the Scientology cult. And in an exclusive interview from the sect's headquarters Kathleen revealed last night: "I love my mother; and we want to sort things out between us." She and Margaret, 63, had not spoken for two-and- a-half years since Kathleen joined the Church of Scientology. But they were finally reunited last week when Kathleen's former flatmate, Steven Cooper, went on trial, accused of trying to kidnap her from the religious movement. The jury are expected to retire tomorrow to consider their verdict. They heard how Margaret sparked off the case by telling Cooper she was worried about Kathleen's welfare and feared she would be sent to America for training. The jury were out of court on Friday afternoon when Margaret, of Guisborough, Cleveland, walked into the room. LOVE Kathleen, sitting in the public gallery, stood up, walked over to her mum, and gave her a hug. The pair then spent 10 minutes in a waiting room, chatting for the first time in years. Kathleen said last night from the Scientology HQ in East Grinstead, Sussex: "I do love my mother but I feel she doesn't understand what's going on in my life. "We used to be very close but these days I'm closer to my dad. They split up when I was 11. "When I saw my mum, I went and put my arms around her. It made me feel sad. "I do feel guilty when I have upset her. But I'm 23 and should be able to live my own life. "I'm going to stay here. I consider it my home." Her mum had ticked her off in the court waiting room, saying: "You've made your father and me ill with worry. Why haven't you been in touch?" Kathleen first left her native North East more than two years ago to live with friends in Bognor, Sussex. She then joined the Church of Scientology and signed a billion-year contract with the movement, she told the jury. The court in Lewes, Sussex, heard how Kathleen works from 9am to 10pm six days a week, for a weekly wage of £33. Her main duty is filing. She told the jury how she underwent a process called "auditing" when she joined the sect, revealing secrets about her life while holding an electronic machine called an E Meter. RESCUE But she denied court claims that she had been turned into a "robot." Prosecutors say Margaret asked Cooper to rescue Kathleen from the cult's headquarters. Margaret is said to have feared that her daughter would be moved to America for further Scientology training. Cooper, 27, originally from Saltburn, Cleveland, denies attempted kidnap and affray in November 1992. He is alleged to have taken a Rottweiler dog, grabbed Kathleen as she walked in the Scientology HQ gardens and tried to bundle her into a car.
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