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A family GP who trafficked a slave nurse in the UK from Nigeria and threatened to hit her when she asked to be paid faces jail today.
Dr. Ayodeji Adewakun, 44, and her husband, 48-year-old nurse Abimbola Adewakun, brought the woman to the United Kingdom from Nigeria with promises of 500 pounds a month.
The couple confiscated their passport as soon as it arrived in February 2007 and subjected it to "constant demands and verbal abuse."
She managed to escape two years later after finally receiving only £ 350 - the equivalent of a salary of £ 15 a month.
The couple were convicted of trafficking by a jury at the Southwark Crown Court today following an investigation of Scotland Yard's Modern Slavery and Abduction Unit.
The jurors were unable to reach a verdict regarding Dr. Adewakun accused of trafficking a second alleged victim. Her husband was removed from office.
Judge Martin Beddoe warned that the couple faces "a meaningful sentence of immediate incarceration" before granting bail until next month.
The couple were said to have persuaded the woman to come and care for their two children in Erith, south-east London, years earlier in 2005.
The 37-year-old victim told Southwark Crown Court she was later forced to work all day cleaning the house, cook for the family and was even woken if the doctor got home late and wanted a snack.
She met the Adewakuns during their visits back to Nigeria where her father was employed in a similar role by Mr Adewakun's parents.
The jury heard she was promised £500 per month in a similar arrangement before 'she too was subject to constant demands and verbal abuse' from Mrs Adewakun.
She described a typical working day involving cleaning the house, cooking for the family, preparing the children for school, running errands and sometimes working through to midnight before being allowed to finally go to bed.
The couple, who live in this street in south east London, kept the woman at their home
After being threatened she was 'lucky not to be beaten like the last girl', she finally demanded payment in February 2009 – after two years without receiving any money.
A bank account was then opened with a £50 deposit followed by further payments of £100, prompting her to flee the home.
When she finally managed to get her passport back she sought help from a charity and an investigation was opened into the Adewakuns.
Dr Adewakun, based at the Abbey Wood surgery, told the court the woman was brought to the UK from Nigeria 'for a better life'.
The GP insisted she paid each the same wages as she did to her previous European au-pair, who was hired from a website.
She claimed to have used contract template from Google and denied the suggestion the Nigerian woman was used because 'no European woman would take [her] physical and verbal abuse'.
The couple, both of Erith, denied two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation. Both were convicted of one count. They will be sentenced on 16 June.
Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant Nick Goldwater said: 'This couple deceived the victim by promising her a regular wage, which was far higher than her earnings in Nigeria. She hoped that she would be able to send money home and improve her family's standard of living.
'In reality, she was made to work day and night and barely paid anything. She was subject to intimidating behaviour by Dr Adewakun, who exerted control over her by keeping her socially isolated and withholding her passport.
'I hope that these convictions serve as a warning to anyone else committing this crime and encourages anyone being exploited to come forward. I also hope it brings a measure of comfort to the brave victim in this case.'
Dr. Ayodeji Adewakun, 44, and her husband, 48-year-old nurse Abimbola Adewakun, brought the woman to the United Kingdom from Nigeria with promises of 500 pounds a month.
The couple confiscated their passport as soon as it arrived in February 2007 and subjected it to "constant demands and verbal abuse."
She managed to escape two years later after finally receiving only £ 350 - the equivalent of a salary of £ 15 a month.
The couple were convicted of trafficking by a jury at the Southwark Crown Court today following an investigation of Scotland Yard's Modern Slavery and Abduction Unit.
The jurors were unable to reach a verdict regarding Dr. Adewakun accused of trafficking a second alleged victim. Her husband was removed from office.
Judge Martin Beddoe warned that the couple faces "a meaningful sentence of immediate incarceration" before granting bail until next month.
The couple were said to have persuaded the woman to come and care for their two children in Erith, south-east London, years earlier in 2005.
The 37-year-old victim told Southwark Crown Court she was later forced to work all day cleaning the house, cook for the family and was even woken if the doctor got home late and wanted a snack.
She met the Adewakuns during their visits back to Nigeria where her father was employed in a similar role by Mr Adewakun's parents.
The jury heard she was promised £500 per month in a similar arrangement before 'she too was subject to constant demands and verbal abuse' from Mrs Adewakun.
She described a typical working day involving cleaning the house, cooking for the family, preparing the children for school, running errands and sometimes working through to midnight before being allowed to finally go to bed.
The couple, who live in this street in south east London, kept the woman at their home
After being threatened she was 'lucky not to be beaten like the last girl', she finally demanded payment in February 2009 – after two years without receiving any money.
A bank account was then opened with a £50 deposit followed by further payments of £100, prompting her to flee the home.
When she finally managed to get her passport back she sought help from a charity and an investigation was opened into the Adewakuns.
Dr Adewakun, based at the Abbey Wood surgery, told the court the woman was brought to the UK from Nigeria 'for a better life'.
The GP insisted she paid each the same wages as she did to her previous European au-pair, who was hired from a website.
She claimed to have used contract template from Google and denied the suggestion the Nigerian woman was used because 'no European woman would take [her] physical and verbal abuse'.
The couple, both of Erith, denied two counts of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation. Both were convicted of one count. They will be sentenced on 16 June.
Investigating Officer Detective Sergeant Nick Goldwater said: 'This couple deceived the victim by promising her a regular wage, which was far higher than her earnings in Nigeria. She hoped that she would be able to send money home and improve her family's standard of living.
'In reality, she was made to work day and night and barely paid anything. She was subject to intimidating behaviour by Dr Adewakun, who exerted control over her by keeping her socially isolated and withholding her passport.
'I hope that these convictions serve as a warning to anyone else committing this crime and encourages anyone being exploited to come forward. I also hope it brings a measure of comfort to the brave victim in this case.'
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