MY sympathy went out to Cheryl Calloway, reported in the Mail on Sunday (September 26) as falling victim to "thought control" via the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Cheryl was quoted as saying she became a witness at four when her parents joined the church.

She tried to break away in her early twenties but didn't manage to leave until ten years later.

Sometimes she felt so low she wanted to end it all and at one point stopped eating.

Finally she distanced herself from the religion and was shunned by everyone she knew.

Her marriage ended in divorce and she then married an ex-witness but they split up and six months later he killed himself.

Having been a victim myself like Cheryl for more than 20 years, I too am now shunned by members of the organisation.

I would encourage all those considering joining them to look before they leap.

Once you get involved it is extremely hard to quit.

Anyone who needs support to break free should take heart for you are by no means alone in your endeavour.

Mrs R Page,

Blackpool.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.