The Lambeth Slavery Case
The Lambeth Slavery Case exposed the horrifying reality of a South London cult, where three women were held captive for over three decades by Aravindan Balakrishnan. Using Maoist ideology and psychological abuse, he maintained a regime of fear and control until the survivors bravely escaped in 2013.
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Key Details
Victims:
Katy Morgan-Davis, 30 at the time of liberation (pictured).
Aisha Wahhab, age not specified.
Josephine Herivel, age not specified.
Sian Davis (died by a fall)
Oh Ka Eng (died from a stroke)
Perpetrators:
Aravindan Balakrishnan (Comrade Bala): Born in 1942, the cult leader.
Chanda Patney (Comrade Chanda): His wife and enforcer, age not specified.
Date of Liberation: October 25, 2013.
Location: Peckford Place, Brixton
Key Facts
Founded in the 1970s after Balakrishnan was expelled from the Communist Party of England.
The group, the Workers’ Institute, was based on Maoist ideologies.
Members were isolated from society and controlled through fear.
Balakrishnan claimed supernatural powers, including controlling life and death and influencing world events.
Followers were subjected to psychological abuse, public punishments, and restricted freedom.
"JACKIE," a fictional omnipotent force, was used to instil constant fear and obedience.
Katy Morgan-Davis, Balakrishnan's biological daughter, was born into the cult and denied education, healthcare, and basic freedoms.
Aisha Wahhab and Josephine Herivel endured decades of abuse and coercive control, unable to escape the commune's grip.
Sian Davis, Katy’s mother, died in 1997 under suspicious circumstances after an unexplained fall.
Oka Eng, a follower, died in 2001 after being denied medical treatment for a severe head injury.
Josephine Herivel contacted the Freedom Charity in October 2013, leading to a police investigation.
Police conducted a month-long operation before rescuing the three women from a house in Brixton.
Balakrishnan was arrested in 2013 and charged with multiple crimes, including false imprisonment, child cruelty, and rape.
In 2015, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison after being found guilty on numerous counts.
Balakrishnan died in prison in 2022 at the age of 81.
Katy Morgan-Davis has since rebuilt her life, becoming an advocate for victims of coercive control and modern slavery.
Josephine and Aisha have largely stayed out of the public eye, focusing on recovery.