Bond writer 'framed the last witch in Britain'

Published on Monday 14 May 2007 01:44

A HOUSEWIFE from Dundee who became the last woman to be jailed in Britain for witchcraft was framed by a team of British intelligence officers who worked with or for James Bond creator Ian Fleming, according to new research.

Robert Hartley claims fresh research into the trial documents - released to the National Archive - points to a state conspiracy to crack down on security leaks ahead of D-Day.

The academic and award-winning film-maker says that Helen Duncan, the woman hailed as "Britain's last witch", was convicted in 1944 at the Old Bailey as an example to others.

Throughout the 1930s and 1940s Duncan, a mother of six, was a celebrated medium performing seances for the wives and widows left at home during the war.

Her technique was to go into a trance and produce ectoplasm through her mouth and nose which would form human shape and speak.

However, on 19 January, 1944, during a sitting in Portsmouth, Duncan conjured up a sailor from HMS Barham to talk to his surprised mother - who didn't know he was dead. The sinking of HMS Barham had been kept a secret by the navy for three months for operational reasons.

Fears that Duncan could be a spy led to an investigation by MI5 and Naval Intelligence who were alarmed by her access to secret information.

Only months before D-Day, Duncan was arrested and put on trial at the Old Bailey accused of contravening the Witchcraft Act of 1735.

"The authorities were terrified about potential security leaks and Duncan was in danger of disclosing military secrets during her seances," said Dr Hartley.

"Helen Duncan was giving out very accurate information. There were other mediums round the country giving out news on soldiers that had died and someone in authority took it seriously, whatever the source of the information."

After examining all the available documents for a new book on the conspiracy, Helen Duncan: The Mystery Show Trial, Dr Hartley suggests that among those responsible for the conspiracy to convict Duncan was James Bond author Ian Fleming, who was a key figure in the intelligence services at the time.

"I am convinced Naval Intelligence were working with MI5 and when I began looking at that connection, Ian Fleming's name kept cropping up as being involved with people either involved in the case or on the sidelines," said Dr Hartley.

On the basis of the evidence, much of which Dr Hartley claims appears to have been fabricated or at least exaggerated, Duncan was convicted and jailed.

More than half a century later, her case continues to be a cause clbre with more than 30,000 websites, translated into several languages, detailing her story.

The official Helen Duncan website claims to have received at least 42 million visitors in the last few years, leading to a worldwide campaign for justice and a petition to the British government calling for the dowdy, plump housewife, who died in 1956, to be pardoned.

"We want to clear her name," said Michael Colmer, campaign co-ordinator and founder of the British Society of Paranormal Studies.

"There is no doubt that she was framed by the admiralty and our campaign has uncovered evidence that it was a conspiracy."

Duncan's supporters are now confident they can put right the original verdict and have petitioned the government for a full pardon.

Graham Hewitt, legal adviser to the campaign, is on the verge of completing a submission to the Home Office with evidence that Duncan was the subject of an admiralty conspiracy.