Remote Scottish lodge reveals dark secrets: human trafficking and violence uncovered in court ruling
In February 2025 a Scottish court banned a man from leaving the UK after it was found his alleged conduct over several years relating to certain women was 'utterly harrowing'. South Africa features in this case.
Lochdhu Lodge in Caithness, Scotland, is not accessible by public transport. Based on images online, trees and a body of water are positioned around the imposing property.
Somewhere inside the remote premises are a trapdoor and 60m curved concrete tunnel leading to a chamber. According to Scotland's Wick Sheriff Court, this chamber 'consists of several areas, containing, inter alia, an empty coffin, life-size ancient Egyptian figures and a metal bench'.
A judgment by the court in a civil matter, dated 1 February, states that the man who resides at the lodge, Kevin Booth, 'on numerous occasions, over many years, at Lochdhu Lodge and elsewhere, violently whips women and girls, causing them obvious extreme distress and pain'.
The civil court, in its unprecedented ruling, has banned Booth from travelling outside the UK for five years. The judgment provides insight into the evidence that was presented to the court.
Although it appears Booth had 'contracts' with some women who agreed to beatings, his conduct has been viewed as human trafficking and exploitation.
And South Africa – and a South African woman – are referenced.
Booth is also on trial for allegedly indecently communicating with a woman. This matter is expected to resume in August. He has denied the communication accusations, and is appealing the travel ban.
Emails to two of his legal representatives in the travel ban case had not been responded to by the time of publication.
'Utterly harrowing'
The judgment says a detective sergeant, Christopher Hughes, reviewed video and documentary evidence in the case. This included Skype messages recovered from Booth's electronic devices, which detailed issues relating to travel, including visas, and payment for women he was arranging to meet. Contracts containing 'agreements' between Booth and various women 'stating their obligation to submit to beatings as a term of their employment by the defender' were also found.
'The evidence of Mr Booth's egregious conduct, as presented in court, was, at times, utterly harrowing,' the judgment says. Videos showed Booth 'beating young women'.
'The graphic video footage, combined with the context and background provided by supporting documentary evidence in various forms, was redolent of a level of cruelty and depravity which, whilst extreme, one can only hope is rare.'
'Economically vulnerable women'
Included in the judgment is a list of descriptions relating to the videos. One says: 'The video is 25 minutes long and shows a prolonged and sustained beating perpetrated by the defender.
'A young black woman is naked and kneeling on the floor. The defender [Booth] tells her there has been a problem and that there will be a punishment.'
This 'problem' was that she had not called him 'sir' between 10am and 6.30pm.
A description of another video says a young black woman is being caned. 'The video lasts for approximately 9 minutes. The beating occupies most of that time.'
Hughes, according to the judgment, believed that Booth had travelled abroad regularly.
'He recruits economically vulnerable women from poor countries, arranges and pays for them to travel to a variety of countries, in particular South Africa, Dubai, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, where, once isolated and within his control, he subjects them to violent beatings,' it says.
South African holiday
Booth did not give evidence in the case and, apart from the transcript of an email exchange, no evidence was submitted on his behalf. South Africa is referenced in this email exchange, dated between October and November 2023.
According to the judgment, the exchange involved police in Scotland, and in it Booth alluded to some plans to pay a woman while on holiday in South Africa, so that she could meet him and his family. The woman was referred to as a 'long-term friend'.
'As part of this exchange the defender is asked whether the woman had ever been sponsored by him or worked for him, and the defender replies stating that she had never worked for him,' the judgment says.
It also references a Skype exchange in which Booth 'displays knowledge of how to circumvent United Kingdom immigration laws by arranging to travel to Dubai to meet a Miss AW, a South African citizen, in order that he can employ her in Dubai and thereafter sponsor her entry into the UK as an employee'.
The judgment says the evidence in the matter has led to the ruling that Booth has 'committed acts of human trafficking and exploitation'. It also details a history of accusations linked to Booth.
In 1991 he was accused of beating and whipping children in his care at a UK school. In 1992, The Independent reported that Booth, wanted in the UK, appeared to be launching a school in India.
'[His] new venture was revealed when advertisements were placed in newspapers in Botswana, southern Africa, inviting parents to send their children to the boarding school in the Nadu region of India,' the article said.
The judgment fills in what then happened: 'On his return [to the UK], in 1994, he was convicted after trial at Newcastle Crown Court of five charges of assaulting children.'
The Telegraph reported in 2001 that Booth, whom it described as a 'millionaire racing tipster', was jailed for abusing his Brazilian au pair.
'He showed her a video of himself beating a young African woman on her bare buttocks to convince her that he would follow through with his threats,' the article said.
'After the trial, the court heard that Booth, [then] 41, had been convicted of common assault in 1994 for beating pupils at a boarding school he ran in Northumberland. On that occasion, he was given a suspended sentence.'
The Scottish civil court judgment sums up Booth's background and allegations stemming from it. It says that between 1998 and December 2022, he recruited women from the UK and abroad, isolated and beat them, and 'through threats of violence' forced them 'to perform sexual acts on him'. DM
This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
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