Gillian Leeden is accused of sending malicious communications after writing a book about her poisoning of her sister’s artichokes
A middle-class pensioner locked in an eight-year feud with her sisters has appeared in court accused of publishing a ‘malicious’ book about poisoned artichokes.
Gillian Leeden, 66, fell out with her sisters Deborah Lemay and Lyndsey Glassett in 2010 over the care of their mother Winifred Leeden.
The spat culminated in Leeden being convicted of criminal damage in 2014 after she was caught on CCTV pouring weed killer over Ms Glassett’s Jerusalem artichokes.
She has now found herself back in court after writing a 213-page book titled ‘Behind the Artichokes’ which details her version of the long-running saga.
The 15-chapter work accuses her sisters of stealing money from their mother and even abusing her before her death in 2014, a court has heard.
After publishing the book, she posted it to the pair in October 2015, and also sent it to Ms Glassett’s neighbours, landlord, daughter, friends and local vicar.
Leeden is charged with two counts of conveying false information under the Malicious Communications Act 1988 to her siblings.
Opening the case at St Albans Crown Court today, prosecutor Katrina Charles told jurors that Leeden had sabotaged the vegetables while Ms Glassett was away for the weekend.
Ms Leeden’s sisters Lyndsey Glassett and sister Deborah Lemay are the complainants
She said: ‘Ms Glassett had installed CCTV at the property and upon viewing the footage saw the defendant pour a liquid on the artichokes.
‘The cover of the book showed the author to be the defendant Gillian Leeden and the summary of the book on the rear cover explained that the book was an account of the author’s views of the events.’
She added: ‘It’s one thing to have a dispute with a family member. It’s another thing to take on this kind of conduct.’
According to the charges, Leeden wrote in the book that Ms Lemay and Ms Glassett stole £21,000 from their mother, and removed furniture and jewellery from her home without consent.
The case centres on this book written by Ms Leeden, which the jury have been told to read in full
The book also says that they abused their mother, and accuses Ms Glassett of having inherited a ‘considerable amount of money’ from aunt Barbara Leeden through ‘misdemeanour’.
Ms Charles told jurors: ‘The book criticises Ms Glassett for taking care of their aunt Barbara Joan Leeden ‘Bobbie’ whilst she was dying to inherit her estate.’
Both complainants deny the allegations made in the book.
The jury have now been told to read the entire ‘Behind the Artichokes’ book before giving a verdict.
Leeden, of Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, sat in the dock wearing a purple jacket, black blouse and suit trousers, and a pearl necklace. She denies the charges.
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