Mother of convert says her life ruined

The mother of a Muslim convert dubbed Jihadi Jack has told how her life is “in ruins”, while his father said their conviction for funding terrorism “destroys me”.

Organic farmer John Letts, 58, and former Oxfam fundraising officer Sally Lane, 57, walked free from court on Friday after being given a suspended sentence.

The Old Bailey heard they ignored repeated warnings their son had joined Islamic State in Syria and sent – or tried to send – a total of £1,723 for him despite being told by police three times not to.

They were found guilty of one charge of funding terrorism in September 2015, but cleared of the same charge in December 2015. A third charge relating to an attempt to send money in January 2016 was ordered to lie on file after jurors could not agree.

In a statement following their trial the parents maintained they did “what any parent would do if they thought that their child’s life was in danger”.

Lane has now told the Mail On Sunday that while she is “immensely pleased” not to be in prison, her life is “in ruins”.

She told the newspaper: “My career and my life are in ruins. The people I used to work with don’t return my calls.

“Above all, Jack is still a prisoner.”

Her son is being held by Kurdish authorities in northern Syria accused of being a member of IS.

John Letts told the paper: “Being found to have supported terrorism is a tremendous blow. It’s going to have a huge impact. Inside, it destroys me.”

He added that he will “never give up” on his son.

The trial had heard how the pair refused to believe their 18-year-old son had become an extremist when they allowed him to travel, and following the verdicts they said they remain “committed to help Jack return home”.