top of page

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.

Katy Morgan Davies.png

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.

6748ba0fe6601_2025NOMINEE.png

Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

  • Instagram

©2024 by Sinister South Podcast.

bottom of page