A wealthy mother who runs an online tutoring service for children with learning difficulties has been charged with POISONING a young girl.
Mary Kidson, 55, is charged with THREE counts of “administering poison to a female juvenile with intent to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm.”
Kidson – who was initially arrested in March last year – is accused of committing the offences between December 2010 and March 2013 in Ledbury, Herefordshire.
A spokesman for West Mercia Police said the charges relate to a child who is now in her teens.
He said: “The charges follow a lengthy investigation by police at Hereford, working with Children’s Services and the local health authority.”
Ms Kidson was charged on Friday and was released on police bail.
Kidson, a graduate in environmental science, runs her own Smart Processing centre from her sprawling £475,000 detached farmhouse.
She lives just one-and-a-half miles away from Donnington Hall, which was bought for £6 million by Liz Hurley and Shane Warne.
Kidson charges £21-an-hour for her services and claims to offer “professional, personalised on-line tutoring” for children as young as three years old.
She runs the Fast ForWord program, which is described on her website as a “series of fun and interactive home e-learning programs” to help students develop English language and reading skills.
On her company website, Mary describes herself as the parent of a child with verbal dyspraxia – a speech disorder.
She says she became “fascinated” with therapies after her witnessing her daughter undertake a Fast ForWord course suggested by Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Kidson then studied with a London-based independent speech and language therapist before gaining full certification to deliver the therapies in 2008.
She then set up her Smart Processing centre at her plush home in Ledbury and describes herself as fully CRB checked and registered with the Data Protection Act (1998) as a Data Controller.
Writing on her website, Kidson says: “Having supported and coached my own daughter and seen the significant difference the The Listening Program and Fast ForWord software can make, I knew that I wanted to share this knowledge with other people and help them make a difference.
“Now established as a key UK training provider, Smart Processing where ‘Fit Brains Learn Better’ is the result.”
And one parent, whose son is tutored by Kidson, adds: “Mary is so dedicated and always available to discuss any problems.
“As a result, our son is making a huge amount of progress. I would thoroughly recommend Mary Kidson and Smart Processing.”
Kidson will appear at Hereford Magistrates Court on January 29.
