William Ashworth
| Use attributes for filter ! | |
| Gender | Male |
|---|---|
| Age | 82 |
| Date of birth | January 1,1942 |
| Date of Reg. | |
| Date of Upd. | |
| ID | 3915735 |
William Ashworth Life story
William Ashworth is a reference librarian in Ashland, Oregon. He is the author of several books, including The Late, Great Lakes: An Environmental History (Wayne State University Press, 1987)
Chichester: Wife and carer jailed for enslaving disabled husband
By Christian Fuller & Nikki MitchellBBC News
The wife and carer of a disabled man have been jailed under modern slavery laws.
Sarah Somerset-How and her lover George Webb left Tom Somerset-How bedbound and malnourished in his home in Chichester, West Sussex , for Four Years .
Mr Somerset-How said he lived " under duress and threat" and was forced into " survival mode".
At Portsmouth Crown Court , Ms Somerset-How and Webb, both of Bognor Regis , were sentenced to 11 years in prison.
In what is thought to be The First prosecution of its kind, the pair were convicted of wilful neglect and holding a person in slavery or servitude.
In addition, Webb was also convicted of causing actual Bodily Harm .
Mr Somerset-How, 40, has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, is partially blind and requires 24-hour care.
Over Four Years , he was physically and psychologically abused, left without sufficient food and drink and forced To Live in squalid conditions after Webb was hired as a live-in carer in 2016, The Court heard.
The Lovers took advantage of him for their own financial gains and separated him from His Family , who reported The Situation to The Police in August 2020.
Police said texts between The Defendants ' mobile phones showed they had started a sexual relationship together and intentionally neglected Mr Somerset-How to take drugs and plan nights away.
In sentencing, Judge William Ashworth said Mr Somerset-How was " held in slavery, kept in bed, frequently in his own urine and excrement, unwashed, unkempt and absent from contact from other humans".
He told The Court that Mr Somerset-How had suffered " serious psychological harm" was " humiliated" and treated as " a cow to be milked".
'Utterly destroyed me'When he was rescued, Mr Somerset-How weighed just 6st 10lbs (43kg).
" I was literally in bed for 95% of Four Years . There was one point where I didn't get showered in five weeks, " He Said .
" The emotional toll's been ridiculous and the psychological toll. It's completely, utterly destroyed me. There's no retribution that will ever equalise what they've done to me. "
He added: " As Far as George goes, because he was a carer, he should never, ever have the opportunity to do this to anybody again. "
Prior to sentencing, Mr Somerset-How's victim impact statement was read out by The Prosecution barrister, Paul Calvin.
" I go To My room and just scream, " it said.
The Statement also said that Mr Somerset-How had had suicidal thoughts and been left with significant debt.
Det Con Cheyne Garrett said she was shocked when she realised the scale of the " depravity" shown by the couple.
" He was stuck in that room. His money was spent. It is despicable and it shouldn't have happened, " She Said .
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Related TopicsSource of news: bbc.com
