Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Landlady made to pay £200,000 for keeping woman in servitude

The victim was kept in domestic servitude for 16 years – she had to cook, clean and look after landlady’s children without any pay

Landlady made to pay £200,000 for keeping woman in servitude

An Asian-origin millionaire woman in West Sussex was jailed and made to pay over £200,000 for keeping a vulnerable woman in domestic servitude for 16 years, Sky News reports.

The landlady, Farzana Kausar, forced the woman to work unpaid in her home in Worthing, making her cook, clean and look after her children.


She also subjected her to physical and psychological abuse.

Kausar took control of the victim's passport and finances. She would withdraw money from bank accounts that she had opened in the victim's name.

Kausar was arrested by Sussex Police on suspicion of Modern Slavery offences in May 2019.

She tried to scuttle the course of justice by forcing the victim to write a letter to the police seeking to withdraw the charges.

In 2022, Kausar was jailed for six years and eight months after she was found guilty of holding a person in slavery or servitude and for perverting the course of justice.

The Crown Prosecution Service later took Kausar to court so that a confiscation order could be issued against her under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The act forces criminals to hand over available money and assets up to the total amount they benefited from through their crimes.

On October 13, 2023, Kausar was ordered to pay back a total of more than £205,000 or face an additional 30-month prison sentence.

Kausar had to sell a property to cover the amount that she has now paid in full, out of which the victim got £198,776.

More For You

king-charles-speech-getty

Speaking from Fitzrovia Chapel, a former hospital chapel in central London, the king acknowledged the contributions of medical staff, veterans, and humanitarian workers. (Photo: Getty Images)

King Charles thanks doctors, addresses far-right riots in Christmas speech

KING CHARLES expressed gratitude to doctors and nurses for their support during his Christmas address, a speech that followed a year marked by health challenges for both him and Princess Catherine.

Speaking from Fitzrovia Chapel, a former hospital chapel in central London, the king acknowledged the contributions of medical staff, veterans, and humanitarian workers. He also addressed issues such as global conflicts and the far-right riots that occurred in the UK over the summer.

Keep ReadingShow less
indian-soldiers-ww1-getty

Indian infantrymen on the march in France in October 1914 during World War I. (Photo: Getty Images)

Spice tins reveal Indian soldiers' role in First World War Christmas truce

A HISTORIAN has uncovered more evidence of the contributions made by Indian soldiers during the First World War with the discovery of spice tins linked to the 1914 Christmas truce.

These tins, which were morale-boosting gifts, ended up with German soldiers when the Western Front fell silent, allowing soldiers to exchange handshakes, gifts, and even play football.

Keep ReadingShow less
Smithfield-market-getty

Smithfield Market has been a hub for meat and livestock trading for nearly 900 years. (Photo: Getty Images)

Punters bid farewell to Smithfield’s iconic Christmas meat auctions

MEAT traders at London's historic Smithfield Market auctioned off cheap turkeys and other meats to eager bidders on Tuesday, continuing a long-standing Christmas tradition.

However, the future of this festive event is uncertain following recent decisions about the market’s closure.

Keep ReadingShow less
starmer-christmas

Starmer highlighted that Christmas serves as a reminder of the importance of family, friendship, and fellowship among all people. (Photo: X/@Keir_Starmer)

Starmer’s Christmas message calls for Middle East peace

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer has expressed hope for peace in the Middle East and a brighter future for all in his first Christmas message since taking office.

In a video released by Downing Street ahead of Christmas Day, Starmer encouraged people to care for those around them and extended special thanks to armed forces and frontline workers.

Keep ReadingShow less
Geoffrey-Cottrell-Reuters

Archbishop of York Stephen Geoffrey Cottrell (L) and The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby walk in central London. (Photo: Reuters)

Church of England must repent, says senior cleric in Christmas message

THE CHURCH of England's second most senior cleric, Stephen Cottrell, will call for repentance and reform in a Christmas sermon on Wednesday. His remarks come as the institution continues to face criticism over child abuse cover-up scandals.

This year’s Christmas celebrations have been clouded by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s resignation in November over allegations of mishandling abuse cases. Accusations of further safeguarding failures have also been directed at Archbishop Cottrell, Welby’s successor as the Archbishop of York.

Keep ReadingShow less