Steven and Hedy Freedman were fined for the card they sent to their daughter (Picture: Cavendish)

A family dispute ended up in court after grandparents sent their estranged daughter a card addressed to ‘Abuser of the Year’.

Steven and Hedy Freedman sent the card to daughter Danielle Hampson in retaliation to a cut-out she sent of a newspaper when she was awarded Woman of the Year.

Five police officers injured in Sheffield axe attackMr and Mrs Freedman, 76 and 72, told Liverpool Magistrates’ Court they believed the cutting had been sent out of spite after she stopped them having contact with her children, aged seven and 10.

The card they sent in reply was accompanied with an email from a US group called ‘Alienated Grandparents Anonymous’.




Miss Hampson, 46, a trained counsellor for victims of domestic abuse and NSPCC volunteer, reported her concerns about the correspondence because she had not told them where she lived.

They also made reference to ‘Alienated Grandparents Anonymous’ (Picture: Cavendish)

She said: ‘I am constantly worried I will bump into or see my parents.

‘I don’t go out in public or do community events regarding my Jewish faith.. I feel petrified I will see them. My mother has developed an unhealthy fixated behaviour towards my children where I feel I am being stalked.

Airport sniffer dogs are finding sausages and cheese but not Class A drugs’I feel she wants to take them off me and raise them. In February my daughter approached me and said, ‘nanny sends her love and is asking how we are’. It made me feel horrible. I just want to be left alone and for the children to be left alone.’

Judge Adam Shaw said: ‘Mr and Mrs Freedman both bear equal responsibly for the actual act involving the letter. The actions were mean. The description is obviously false and inappropriate.’

The Freedmans – a retired pharmacist and former ballet dancer – pleaded guilty to sending an indecent or grossly offensive letter. They were ordered to pay £2,345 in fines and costs.

An application by Miss Hampson for a restraining order was turned down.