APPENDIX 118
Memorandum submitted by Elizabeth Belfield
PRIVACY BILL—EVIDENCE
FOR CONSIDERATION
BY THE
COMMITTEE
I enclose a copy of a libellous feature published
in the Sunday People on 22 January 1984 [not reproduced
here] wherein my then business partner Norman Belfield and
our hypnotherapy concern are named and defamed under the sub-heading
"Sex Fantasy in the Garden" and are also libelled by
association. The material printed is a précis of two separate
"Imagery models" for use by practising hypnotherapists
published by J B Lippincott Company USA under the title Hypnosis
and Behaviour Modification: Imagery Conditioning by William
S Kroger, MD and William D Fezler, PhD, USA
It is a learned work with a foreword by Professor
Eysenck of the Institute of Psychiatry, University of London,
and the use of the models is standard practice in advanced hypnotherapy.
We were not insured for libel when the Sunday
People published their piece.
I wrote in complaint to the Editor, Richard
Stott. He admitted that his reporters had been unaware that they
had published copyright material but sought to justify, claiming
that Mr Belfield had used the material when treating their girl
"for sexual titillation". We had 8,000 listed clients
at that time. No-one had made any suggestion or complaint of malpractice
or misdemeanour before nor since the libel.
Another absurd defence put up by Stott was that
my partner required women to undress and that verbal examinations
for qualification held then by Committee members of the Institute
of Curative Hypnotherapy—or which he was a member—were
used by him to conduct pseudo medical examinations and required
women candidates to undress.
The meetings were held periodically at the Arden
Motel Solihull, when six or more middle-aged gentlemen sat at
a long table in a panelled room to receive and interview applicants
on their suitability for membership.
My partner was innocent of any wrong-doing whatsoever.
We have been maliciously damaged and our health and latter years
greatly harmed by the deceitful press assault and intrusion into
our lives. I married my partner in December 1998. He died on 7
February 2003 of severe pneumonia and heart failure. His funeral
was on 21 February 2003.
I fought our case in person in the High Court,
Strand until my headlong fall downstairs in 1993 prevented further
action. I have all my files but no time to assemble copies for
you, but send some of the papers herewith. A pack has been sent
to Presswise but may not have arrived in time. [not reproduced
here]
I would like to take part in the work towards
a Bill.
This was a malicious libel and I can show conspiracy
involving professional jealously and an attempt to drive us out
of valuable city centre land. This malice has continued ever since.
1 March 2003
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