A WOMAN accused of poisoning her daughter with unnecessary medication has been cleared by a jury after a three-week trial at Worcester Crown Court.

Mary Kidson was acquitted on the direction of Judge Robert Juckes QC on three charges of administering a poisonous or noxious substance so as to endanger life or inflict grievous bodily harm over a three-year period.

Kidson, aged 55, of Dymock Road, Ledbury, who pleaded not guilty, was released from the dock after spending several weeks in custody because of breaching a bail order not to contact her daughter.

She said after the hearing: "I am just so relieved. This case came about because I am a caring mother and was only acting in my daughter's interest."

Her daughter could not be named during the case by order of the court. Mrs Kidson said she hoped soon to be reunited with the 16-year-old.

The prosecution alleged that she had administered hydrocortisone tablets between December 2010 and March 2013, oestrogen tablets from February 2011 until 2013 and thyroid extract between August 2012 and Match 2013.

Prosecutor John Cawser said Kidson, who runs the Smart Processing tutor firm which helps children with autism, dyspraxia and auditory processing disorder, had gone "doctor shopping" on the internet until she found one who agreed with her ideas.

One witness, who gave evidence by video link from Belgium, was specialist Dr Thierry Hertoghe, who agreed with her treatment and prescribed medication not available without prescription in that country or in the UK.

Dr Hertoghe was highly respected and had written a number of books and addressed international conferences, said defence counsel Ken Hind.

But the jury of seven women and five men was told by a number of medical NHS experts that the girl did not need any of the medication she was given.

Judge Juckes told the jury there was no evidence that grievous bodily harm had been caused or that there was a risk to the girl's life.

Mrs Kidson said later that her time in prison had been a positive experience and she had managed to carry out a lot of good work.

She was looking forward to the day when she could be reunited with her daughter and would think again before re-starting her website on the internet.