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| Jack Letts: 'Jihadi Jack's mum 'horrified' son was in Syria | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The mother of a Muslim convert dubbed "Jihadi Jack" told a court she was "horrified" when he called to say he was in Syria. | |
| Sally Lane, 56, and her husband are accused of sending or trying to send her son £1,723, despite having reason to believe he had joined Islamic State. | Sally Lane, 56, and her husband are accused of sending or trying to send her son £1,723, despite having reason to believe he had joined Islamic State. |
| Jack Letts left his Oxford home at 18, married an Iraqi tribesman's daughter and moved to Syria, jurors have heard. | |
| Mrs Lane and John Letts, 58, deny three charges of funding terrorism. | Mrs Lane and John Letts, 58, deny three charges of funding terrorism. |
| 'Study and tourism' | 'Study and tourism' |
| They are alleged to have ignored repeated warnings that they faced prosecution if they tried to help their son while he was in IS territory. | They are alleged to have ignored repeated warnings that they faced prosecution if they tried to help their son while he was in IS territory. |
| Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Mrs Lane told jurors her son had initially gone to Jordan and Kuwait for study and tourism. | Giving evidence at the Old Bailey, Mrs Lane told jurors her son had initially gone to Jordan and Kuwait for study and tourism. |
| She said: "He seemed like he was enjoying himself, relaxing and enjoying the country." | She said: "He seemed like he was enjoying himself, relaxing and enjoying the country." |
| But on 2 September 2014, phone records showed a flurry of calls. | But on 2 September 2014, phone records showed a flurry of calls. |
| Lane said: "That was the day I found out. Jack phoned me. I was alone in the house. It was just a very quick phone call. He said 'Mum, I'm in Syria'. | Lane said: "That was the day I found out. Jack phoned me. I was alone in the house. It was just a very quick phone call. He said 'Mum, I'm in Syria'. |
| "I was horrified. I screamed at him, 'How could you be so stupid? You will get killed. You will get beheaded'." | "I was horrified. I screamed at him, 'How could you be so stupid? You will get killed. You will get beheaded'." |
| Jack Letts, who is said to suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder, did not phone again until 24 September 2014. | Jack Letts, who is said to suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder, did not phone again until 24 September 2014. |
| Mrs Lane said: "He did not say exactly where he was. He tried to be reassuring, saying everything is fine. It's a civilian area, it's not a war zone." | Mrs Lane said: "He did not say exactly where he was. He tried to be reassuring, saying everything is fine. It's a civilian area, it's not a war zone." |
| Defence lawyer Tim Moloney QC asked: "How did all that contact make you feel?" | Defence lawyer Tim Moloney QC asked: "How did all that contact make you feel?" |
| She replied: "We did not know whether he was alive or dead. At least we were reassured he was alive." | She replied: "We did not know whether he was alive or dead. At least we were reassured he was alive." |
| A month later, Mrs Lane attempted to use a £5,000 inheritance from her son's grandfather "as a bribe" to encourage him and his new wife Asmaa to get "somewhere safe". | A month later, Mrs Lane attempted to use a £5,000 inheritance from her son's grandfather "as a bribe" to encourage him and his new wife Asmaa to get "somewhere safe". |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |