Woman received ‘sadistic’ electric shock therapy in Manchester | Manchester News

Pauline Collier was a typical working-class girl growing up in Audenshaw – but she was harbouring a “deep secret” that she knew she “shouldn’t talk about”.

She was attracted to women, and after hiding the “toxic secret” for over a decade, Ms Collier was outed as a lesbian in 1965.

Believing she was psychologically ill, doctors at Crumpsall Hospital subjected her to Electric Shock Aversion Therapy (ESAT) – a conversion practice where patients were strapped to a chair and given electric shocks while being shown pornographic images.

Ms Collier, now 80, has finally received an apology from a doctor involved. “It meant an awful lot,” she said. “But it was still a cruel and sadistic treatment.”

This article contains details of the historical use of electric shock therapy in the NHS. It includes detail of psychological and physical trauma experienced by LGBT+ people which some readers might find disturbing. Support is available through the ‘s Action Line.

The year was 1965 and Ms Collier was a young psychology student at Durham University who had just fallen in love – with another girl.

Doctors at Crumpsall Hospital told Pauline they could “change” her and she was offered work at a hospital if she had the treatment.

Believing it might finally end the shame and confusion she had carried for years, “vulnerable” teen Ms Collier submitted to treatment.

“It was punishment, not therapy,” she recalled.

Ms Collier told Radio Manchester about how she was shown into a darkened treatment room.

In the centre was a chair, a screen, and machinery. Electrodes were taped to her arms. She was shown semi-naked photographs of women and asked which she found attractive. When she refused to choose, she was shocked.

“It made me sweat, it frightened me,” she said.

She was told she could avoid the shock by pressing a button and choosing a photo of a man instead.

“I would associate pain with women and relief with men.

“It was so naïve, simplistic.”

Pauline estimates she had around 20 sessions, each involving a dozen shocks.

“They told me to ignore women completely.

“Not look at them, not make friends with them.

“Instead, concentrate on men – look at them, talk to them, feel sexually attracted to them.

“I tried really hard to do that.

“But they were trying to make me heterosexual inside – and I never achieved that.”

The treatment left Ms Collier deeply depressed.

“It was completely unsuccessful,” she said.

“I became increasingly miserable. Just before my final term, I went back to Crumpsall.

“I was diagnosed with a reactive depression and admitted to the psychiatric ward for two weeks, where I was given strong antidepressants and sedatives.”

She returned to university dulled and drugged, barely able to focus on her finals.

“I felt like an imposter,” she said.

“I didn’t know enough psychology to be doing the job.

“It stole my energy.”

Ms Collier went on to have a long and successful career as an educational psychologist in Manchester.

She has had also had three long-term partners over the years and has raised three stepchildren.

But Ms. Collier said the trauma of those years never fully left her.

Years later, Ms Collier confronted one of the psychologists who had administered the shocks – and told them what they did to her “was absolutely unsuccessful”.

She said: “I thought at least they could have said: ‘I’m sorry’. But they didn’t.”

But earlier this year Ms Collier met another Crumpsall psychologist, Dr Jim Orford, and finally received the apology she had long waited for.

“I want to apologise,” Dr Orford told her. “Not just for myself, but on behalf of psychology.”

He said: “We thought we could change everybody.

“We overreached.

“Looking back, I think shame is not an inappropriate word.

“I’m sorry – deeply sorry.”

Ms Collier told Radio Manchester about how it had felt to accepted Dr Orford’s apology.

“It was like a weight being lifted from my shoulders,” she said. “I cried for a long time. But it was right – and it had a profound effect.”

Although electric shock aversion therapy no longer happens in NHS hospitals, other conversion practices are still legal in the UK.

A ban has been promised by both the previous and current governments, but legislation has yet to be passed.

Survivors like Ms Collier continue to wait – not just for justice, but for recognition.

“Although it damaged me, it didn’t destroy me,” Ms Collier added. “It was a challenge I dealt with. But I don’t want them to get away with this. It was outrageous. And it did damage me.”

Lord Chris Smith, the UK’s first openly gay cabinet minister, has called for a formal apology from the government and the NHS.

He said: “The use of forced electric shock aversion therapy to try and change someone’s sexual orientation, just 50 or 60 years ago, is horrifying.

“And the fact that this was imposed on people by the NHS makes it even worse. The country, and the NHS, should at very least make a formal apology to everyone who was forced to experience this.”

As a result of our investigation, the understands the government will now investigate the historical use of electric shock therapy in the NHS.

Olivia Bailey MP, Minister for Equalities, said: “My thoughts are with those who suffered from this inhumane practice.

“The bottom line is that conversion practices are abuse – such acts have no place in society and must be stopped.

“That is why this government is committed to bringing forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices, as set out in our King’s Speech.

“All people deserve to live freely and without fear, shame or discrimination, and as a member of the LGBT+ community myself, I will work tirelessly to ensure that is the case.”

The Crumpsall trials were overseen by academics at Manchester University.

The University has expressed regret, saying “the attitudes behind the experiments were widely held at the time but are now considered unethical and harmful.”

Manchester University added: “The university offered its sorrow for being part of that environment.”