THE mother of a woman who died just hours after being hypnotised in a Leyland pub wants the inquest into her daughter's death re-opened.

A verdict of natural causes was recorded at the inquest of Sharon Tabarn who died after being hypnotised to think she had received a 10,000 volt electric shock.

Now, three years later, her mother Margaret Harper has lodged an application with the Attorney General for a new inquest because she believes the trance caused her daughter's death.

She said: "Sharon was woken out of her trance by the statement that she would receive 10,000 volts of electricity running through her chair.

"What the hypnotist didn't know was Sharon had a terrible fear of electricity so that was the worst thing he could have done.

"I definitely believe the stage hypnosis was linked to Sharon's death."

As a child, Sharon, 24, of Clayton Brook, had received an electric shock so powerful it had thrown her across the room. Since then she had been too afraid even to change a lightbulb.

After her death, medical evidence showed there were high levels of pro-lactin in her blood, a natural pain inhibitor produced by the body which is normally associated with childbirth.

Mrs Harper said: "It is there to stop pain and she had 14 times more than a normal person would in her bloodstream. This needs more research."

Solicitor Martin Smith, who is representing the family, added that the coroner heard evidence from an expert witness that no-one has ever been harmed by hypnosis. He disputes this. "We showed at the time there was a wealth of information in the public domain to show there were numerous incidents of people allegedly damaged as a result of hypnosis."

He believes that this plus other medical evidence may be sufficient to persuade the Attorney General to re-open the inquest.

Sharon's hypnotist that night was Andrew Vincent. His manager Nigel Round said the performer was not prepared to comment on Mrs Harper's application.

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