1:05pm UK, Tuesday July 18, 2006

Hypnotist Paul McKenna's libel case against the Daily Mirror continues in the High Court today.

McKenna, whose self-help business has an annual turnover of £2.5m, says a claim his doctorate is a fraud made him a "laughing stock".

180 Paul McKenna hypnotist therapist self-help

Suing: Paul McKenna

And he says he was "pilloried" by columnist Victor Lewis-Smith from 1997 onwards and was devastated by a mention of his "bogus" degree.

Yesterday, a journalist revealed to the court how he was told he could buy a degree from Lasalle University in Louisiana, where McKenna got his qualification.

Paul Sparks, who co-writes Lewis-Smith's column, gave evidence for The Mirror and said that he became suspicious when he heard McKenna was was referring to himself as "Dr McKenna".

He said he called Lasalle to ask about a qualification and to his surprise was told "I could obtain a Lasalle degree without undertaking any formal course".

Sparks said he was informed a doctorate would cost $2,615 but when he called back to ask if he could see McKenna's thesis he was told it was not possible.

He said the woman who took the call sounded "flustered and defensive".

McKenna's lawyer, Desmond Browne QC, said the therapist only heard that Lasalle was fraudulently accredited after submitting his final project.

FBI investigations concluded that innocent and unsuspecting students had been defrauded and the US university's founder was later convicted.

The Daily Mirror denies libel and pleads justification.