Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

pounds 100,000 for nanny kept as slave

Kathy Marks
Friday 11 April 1997 18:02 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A nanny who was treated as a slave by her employers was yesterday awarded pounds 100,000 in High Court damages against the couple who fed her scraps and made her sleep outside like a dog.

Nigerian-born Helen Samuels was whipped with knotted electrical flex, beaten with high-heeled shoes and starved to a weight of six stone. Deputy Judge Nigel Wilkinson QC said she had been "treated as no human being should have been treated".

Her employers, Dr Truman Abassah and his wife Philomena, are back in Nigeria after they were deported half-way through five-year prison sentences imposed at Croydon Crown Court in 1991 for causing actual bodily harm. Ms Samuels, 30, lived with the Abassahs between 1985 and 1990 in Thamesmead, south-east London, and then in Bexleyheath.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in