Slimmer Helen to start her own club

SUPER slimmer...Helen Ogborn is starting her own Slimming World class.

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A MUM who piled on the pounds as she helped victims through a harrowing court trial, is starting her own slimming club.

Helen Ogborn, who was awarded an MBE in 2003 for services to victim support, shot up to 161/2 stone and a size 22 as she comfort ate her way through the trial of killer Dr Harold Shipman as she looked after the friends and families of his victims.

The 45-year-old, from Grotton, who is now a student services assistant at a school in Glossop, said: “During that time I was so busy dealing with everyone else that I was the last person I thought about and the weight piled on. During lunch breaks in court I would just grab chips and a huge sandwich and always followed it with a cake to make myself feel better because the things going in court were very distressing.”

Helen, of Hillside Avenue, eventually decided that enough was enough after she developed asthma and pain in her hips and started the Slimming World diet in 2004 using magazines and the internet.

She said: “I thought I didn’t need the classes but I went to a meeting at Zion Church in Lees and I was hooked straight away.”

Helen, who has a 14-year-old daughter Emma, is now down to just under 12st and a size 14 and hopes to shed a further stone..

She is starting a new Slimming World class at Springhead community centre, tonight at 7pm, and will continue to attend her sessions in Lees.

She said: “The diet has worked for me because I love my food and nothing is banned.

“I went for some health tests last month and the doctor said my blood pressure and cholesterol have come down and I am convinced it is down to eating healthier.”