Hugh Grant's PA 'was driven to the brink of suicide' by her own 'stalker' mother who tried to rope actor into row, court hears

Hugh Grant's PA was stalked and abused to the brink of suicide by her own mother, a court has heard.

Laura Peel, 39, enlisted her mother Michelle Scully, 60, to help with childcare following the birth of her son with her City lawyer husband.

But the arrangement soon soured when Scully began aggressively criticising their parenting skills and launched a 'horrific' campaign of abuse, even telling her own daughter she should kill herself.

'Vengeful' Scully also tried to embroil Mr Grant in the row, and demanded from the couple more than £200,000 she felt they owed her, the jury heard.

Scully, of Church Lane, Lelant, St. Ives, Cornwall, is on trial at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court, where she has pleaded not guilty to two counts of stalking between 2022 and 2024. 

She has admitted 'abusing' her daughter, but claimed it was motivated by concern for her grandson.

Laura was Mr Grant's PA on films including The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Cloud Atlas, Florence Foster Jenkins, The Rewrite, and Hugh Grant: Taking on the Tabloids.

She was also a PA to interior designer Fiona Barratt-Campbell and her husband, ex-footballer Sol Campbell.

Michelle Scully, 60, sent a barrage of abusive messages to her daughter, laying into her parenting skills, the court heard

Laura Peel, 39, and her husband Danny Peel enlisted Scully to help out after the birth of their son, but the arrangement soon turned sour

Giving evidence from behind a screen, Laura, who sobbed throughout, told the trial: 'You're emotional and then your mother starts trying to destroy your life with things like: "Have you killed (son) yet?"

'She is sending messages at 2am with horrible bile while we are awake, trying to feed our baby. It was not the start in life we wanted for him and it was very traumatic for both me and Danny.'

Oxford-educated solicitor Danny Peel, 45, became a particular target of Scully, who labelled him 'a piece of scum' and a 'disgusting pig', and said he was neglecting his fatherly responsibilities.

Prosecutor James Halliday told the jury: 'This was a systematic, deliberate campaign of stalking and harassment, involving reporting Mr Peel to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and instigating civil County Court proceedings.

'Sadly, Laura Peel contemplated taking her own life during the abuse.'

Scully was staying at the couple's home in south-west London, but her relationship with the couple turned sour as soon as they returned with their son. Her behaviour resulted in four police warnings.

'My mum was coming to cook and support us in the early days,' explained Laura. 'She started criticising our parenting and (our son) was losing weight. She would take (our son) out of Danny's arms.

'She was angry and then she left. I was really upset because the last thing you want when you have a newborn baby is to fall out with your mother. She was telling us we were bad parents and that's when the abusive messages started.'

Ms Peel said she was driven to the brink of suicide by her mother's incessant abuse

Laura, giving further evidence in the second week of the trial, told the jury: 'My mum regularly, in the heat of an argument, told me she wanted me to kill myself.

'I felt I wanted to die when my mum told me I was worthless and that my husband was worthless in an hour-long phone conversation and that I would be in the gutter, where I belong.'

Mr Halliday said the abusive messages began immediately after Scully left the house, and that she also emailed Mr Peel's City commercial law firm, Travers Smith, where he is a partner.

Scully also demanded the repayment of £225,000 from the couple, threatening to cut Laura out of her will. She wrote in one text: 'You are such an awful daughter, vile and greedy. I really detest you.'

Mr Halliday said: 'She made comments that Laura only went out with Danny for his money.'

A text Ms Peel received from her mother read: 'You're a spoiled brat, who married a disgusting pig of a man.'

In an email to Mr Peel's firm, Scully alleged he 'misappropriated property' and claimed he coerced her out of money. She claimed he had said the couple's £3m house purchase would fall through without her financial assistance.

Scully claimed she lost £300,000 to the couple and launched civil proceedings for the return of £31,000, but this was abandoned. There is no suggestion Mr Peel behaved improperly.

Scully also contacted friends and other family members of the couple, continuing with her allegations and criticism.

Ms Peel said: 'There were so many awful things. I have told my mum private things and they have been twisted beyond recognition.

'The whole thing was awful and she was now damaging Danny's career. It was really upsetting and she is someone known for vengeance and taking people down.'  

Ms Peel told the trial her mother was responsible for ending her working relationship with Hugh Grant.

She said: 'Hugh Grant offered me another job, working on his campaign, which I was interested in... but mum stopped me and said he was fobbing me off and would evict me from the house if I took it.'

The jury was told that Scully also roped the actor into an email chain regarding an old invoice of Laura's.

'There was no need to send that email to Hugh Grant,' said Laura. 'It was embarrassing and I received an email from his accountant saying Hugh Grant was upset.'

Scully told the jury her behaviour and messages were all motivated by concern for her newborn grandson and her desire to reclaim money she gave her daughter and son-in-law.

She said she moved into the couple's home to assist after the birth in a private hospital, for which she claims to have paid £40,000.

'It started to go wrong quite quickly,' said Scully. 'Danny got angered when (his son) would urinate on him.'

She admitted taking the baby from Mr Peel's arms, but insisted this was only to calm the situation as both were in distress. 'I couldn't accept his parenting or the way he treated Laura,' she said.

Scully recalled her daughter telling her Danny would not fund any further fertility treatment, so she stepped in and paid for it, along with the private hospital care.

She also transferred £25,000 to the couple, believing Laura would be suicidal if she did not receive the funds, the court heard.

'I adored Laura and it was difficult for me to say no to her. I later reported Danny to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) because I felt groomed into providing the money,' she said.

Scully received a police warning to stop contacting the couple, which she breached, claiming some of her property was still at their home.

'I accept I did make contact, but it was only for the return of my items,' she told the trial.

She also continued messaging Danny individually and making unfounded claims about his conduct to his law firm employers.

'It was to make Danny change his ways, change his behaviour. The ends justified the means,' she said.

'I was still concerned for my grandson. That's why I was doing it and I was also seeking the money I felt should be returned.

'I accept I abused Laura in my messages and went to her former employer, Hugh Grant. I accept my messages were horrific and that my daughter may kill herself if it continued,' Scully added.