London - Hypnotist Paul McKenna yesterday denied humiliating and coercing a man who claims his "horrendous" experience on stage turned him into a schizophrenic. Mr McKenna said on rare occasions members of the audience fainted, cried, or developed headaches, but insisted nobody had ever had a mental breakdown. He told the London High Court that Mr Christopher Gates, who he hypnotised during a show in High Wycombe four years ago, joined in role-playing games enthusiastically.
Mr Gates, a furniture polisher, is suing Mr McKenna for £200,000 damages, claiming the hypnotist was negligent during the performance. He was admitted to a psychiatric unit nine days after the show suffering from acute schizophrenia, and has not worked since.