May 20th 2024.
Barbara Maura Lane, a 42-year-old woman, made a life-changing decision to move in with 82-year-old self-proclaimed 'wizard' Alfred Douglas. However, what started as a seemingly innocent arrangement, quickly turned into a nightmare for Mr. Douglas.
Dubbed as the 'White Witch of Rye', Lane had a deep fascination with the occult and became obsessed with Mr. Douglas after signing up for one of his magic courses. Her obsession led her to bombard him with countless calls and texts, eventually persuading him to let her stay at his home in Rye, East Sussex.
At first, Lane claimed she simply wanted to see his library on the occult, but things took a turn when she convinced him to let her stay permanently. She painted a picture of having nowhere else to go after her father's passing and her mother's stroke. This was all a ploy to gain control over Mr. Douglas and his wealth.
Lane's actions soon isolated Mr. Douglas from his friends and family, as she took over his life. She controlled every aspect, from what he ate and drank, to who he saw and when. She even had control of his bank account and bank card. Mr. Douglas' nephew, Paul Wilson-Patterson, shared how his uncle's will was changed, leaving a significant portion of his wealth, around £1.5million, to Lane, including his home and shop.
Lane falsely claimed that Mr. Douglas was senile and told the locals that she was his carer, further cutting him off from the outside world. She even physically abused him, kicking his calves and reminding him that he was old, sick, and dying. Mr. Douglas later confided in the police, stating that he felt intimidated and fearful of Lane's actions.
Things escalated when Lane began to smash crockery and other items in the house while under the influence of alcohol. Mr. Wilson-Patterson shared how Lane would have these ferocious rages, causing Mr. Douglas to feel terrified and helpless. His wife, Anna, also expressed how they feared finding Mr. Douglas dead, as Lane's behavior became increasingly erratic and violent.
Things took a dangerous turn when Lane broke into Mr. Douglas' home, stood at the foot of his bed with a smirk on her face, and threw books at him. This incident led Mr. Douglas to install bolts on his bedroom door and wedge chairs and books against it for added protection.
Lane's behavior was not limited to Mr. Douglas alone, as she also punched an elderly shop manager after seeing a portrait of the King and Union Jack bunting in Mr. Douglas' shop. This was on the day of King Charles' coronation, and Lane's actions resulted in her being pushed out of Mr. Douglas' home and causing damage to his greenhouse.
The situation became dire when Mr. Douglas' family intervened, and Lane physically assaulted them as well. She hit Mr. Wilson-Patterson, threw hot tea on Anna, and smashed a glass panel on the front door. When the police arrived, Lane claimed to be Mr. Douglas' carer and demanded payment of £6,000.
Lane has been charged with seven offenses, including stalking, criminal damage, and assault of Mr. Douglas and his family. She pleaded guilty to harassment without violence and criminal damage, with the remaining charges being kept on file. The judge has warned that Lane could face jail time and has released her on bail until her sentencing on July 5.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
