A disabled husband whose wife reportedly kept him as a “cash-cow slave” while he had an affair with his caretaker became “unkempt, unshaven, unwashed and pale” as the abuse took its toll, a jury found.
Gina Zeelie, a friend of cerebral palsy patient Tom Somerset-How, told Portsmouth Crown Court she helped save the 40-year-old from the devious duo who barely kept him alive when they swindled him out of his inheritance.
Sarah Somerset-How, 49, and George Webb, 50, treated Mr Somerset-How – who is nearly blind and in need of 24-hour care – like an ATM.
Mr Somerset-How managed to raise the alarm about his mistreatment with Mrs Zeelie, who alerted his parents. They then carried out a rescue operation with police and social services in an “operation that showed the characteristics of extracting someone as a hostage.”
Tom Somerset-How, a cerebral palsy patient (pictured leaving Portsmouth Crown Court last week) was held as a ‘money-cow slave’ and became ‘unkempt, unshaven, unwashed and pale’ while his wife had an affair with his carer, heard a jury
Gina Zeelie, (pictured) a friend of Mr Somerset-How, told Portsmouth Crown Court she helped save the 40-year-old from the scheming duo who barely kept him alive when they swindled him out of his inheritance
Mr Somerset-How was kept in bed 90 percent of the time at his home in Chichester, West Sussex, the court heard. He was only allowed to shower once a week and was left with chips and a sandwich for food.
The bright history graduate, who claims he was ‘enslaved’ in his own home, was rescued in 2020 by police and social services following an action led by Ms Zeelie.
Today Ms Zeelie told the jury she had contacted Mr Somerset-How during the July 2020 lockdown and became ‘concerned’ about his well-being after a video call.
She said, “I reached out to several people I hadn’t spoken to in a while because I was worried about them. I remember Tom saying he would be left alone for a few hours a day.’
Describing his performance during the video call, she told the judges, “He seemed to be without any energy. He was unkempt, unshaven, unwashed and pale.’
When asked if he had told her about his living conditions, Ms. Zeelie, who worked with Ms. Somerset-How at non-profit agricultural company CABI, replied, “Yes, I was really upset about it.”
Prosecutor Paul Cavin KC said, “Based on what he told you, you urged him to talk to his family about what’s going on. But he refused.
“You sent Helen a friend request [Tom’s mother], and you discussed your concerns about Tom’s physical and mental well-being. You encouraged Tom to talk to his mother, but he wasn’t keen.’
Sarah Somerset-How, 49, and George Webb, 50, (pictured together outside court last week) treated Mr Somerset-How – who is nearly blind and needs 24-hour care – like an ATM, gave £12,000 out and bought themselves lingerie and DJ equipment, prosecutors allege
Mr Somerset-How (pictured) was kept in bed 90 per cent of the time at his home in Chichester, West Sussex, the court heard. He was only allowed to shower once a week and was left with chips and a sandwich for food
The jury heard that Mrs Zeelie found out that Helen had contacted the authorities and that a ‘trial was underway’ to save Mr Somerset-How.
Under cross-examination by barrister Rebecca Upton, it was learned that Ms. Zeelie knew Mr. Somerset-How before he married his wife, whom she later worked with at CABI, as they were both personal assistants.
Separately, she supported them both, but introduced them to each other when she felt she could no longer provide them with the help they needed.
When Mrs. Upton asked if the conversations between Mrs. Zeelie and Mr. Somerset-How were “flirty” when they first met, Mrs. Zeelie agreed.
Discussing the end of her friendship with Mrs. Somerset-How, Mrs. Upton asked ‘was that damage because Sarah wasn’t happy with how you behaved towards Tom?’
Mrs. Zeelie said she couldn’t remember.
She also told the jury that Ms Somerset-How liked to buy “perfume and expensive handbags” for herself, as well as buying presents for Ms Zeelie’s children for their birthdays when she had a “good salary” at her job in Oxfordshire, before being dismissed and moving to Chichester.
Ms Zeelie told the jury at Portsmouth Crown Court (pictured last week) that Ms Somerset-How liked to buy herself ‘perfume and expensive handbags’, and would also buy Mrs Zeelie’s children’s birthday presents if she had a ‘good salary’. at her job in Oxfordshire, before she was fired and moved to Chichester
When asked by Ms Upton whether Ms Somerset-How was aware of the ‘renewed’ contact between Ms Zeelie and her husband, Ms Zeelie said she was aware of their Facebook posts but not their video calls.
Ms Somerset-How and Webb are now on trial at Portsmouth Crown Court, Hants, charged with holding a person in bondage, fraud, robbery and assault by an aid worker.
Webb faces an additional charge of assault causing actual bodily harm, accused of striking Mr. Somerset-How with a shoe.
The pair deny all allegations. The four-week trial continues tomorrow.