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Topics: Australia, Crime, World News
Lucy Devine
Warning: This article contains discussion of domestic violence and child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
A man has been jailed for a crime so horrendous he has become the first person in Australia to be convicted of the rare offence.
Last week, Justice Jane Dixon jailed the man for up to 12 years after he pleaded guilty to the Commonwealth offence of causing a person to enter into or remain in servitude, as well as two assault charges.
Servitude is defined as being 'criminalised as a slavery-like practice, punishable by imprisonment, and includes the condition of a person who is not free to stop providing services or leave the place where they provide services'.
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The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, committed acts of physical violence against his wife, including beating her with poles, belts and cords as well as subjecting her to coercive control.
Over a period of three years, he made his wife a prisoner in their home, locking her inside rooms while he went out socialising, taking her money, and cutting off her contact with family members. The man also insisted his wife send videos to prove she was still imprisoned while he was out of the house.
The court heard how the woman was unable to use the toilet alone or seek medical care, even while she was pregnant.
Once their baby was born, the abuse escalated, and the court also heard evidence of the man abusing his child.
"At first she was hit once or twice a week, but soon you began to hit her every day even for the most trivial of reasons, such as that she yawned or looked at you," said Justice Dixon said.
"By July 2023 you began to lose your temper with (your child), on one occasion yelling in her face that you would kill her.
"And on another occasion placing a belt around her neck and doing it up tight enough to make her scared and cry."
While the abuse first began in 2020, it continued for three years, until the woman sent her mother a video of her covered in cuts and bruises, which was then taken to the police.
During sentencing, Justice Dixon added: "As well as being subjected to regular violent assaults, she was deprived of personal freedom and liberty in almost every aspect of her life.
"The aggravated servitude in the present case involved a regime of extraordinary cruelty and tyranny perpetrated over a lengthy period."
If you are experiencing domestic violence, please know that you are not alone. You can talk in confidence to the national domestic violence helpline Refuge on 0808 2000 247, available 24/7, or via live chat, available 10am-10pm, Monday to Friday.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111, 24/7.