Holby City star ‘horrified’ to find disabled twin brother ‘enslaved in squalor’
A West End actress has told a court of her horror after discovering her disabled twin brother was being kept in squalor by his wife and carer, who were allegedly using him as a "cash cow" whilst they embarked on an affair.
Tom Somerset-How weighed less than seven stones when he was allegedly discovered living in "disgusting conditions" by sister Kate Somerset-Holmes, an actress known for Holby City and the West End production of Annie.
The intelligent history graduate had been reduced to a shadow of himself, a court heard, and claims his wife Sarah Somerset-How and his carer George Webb had begun an affair, enslaving him in order to cash in on his inheritance.
The 40-year-old was "disorientated", "very, very thin" and with a BMI of just 16 when he was eventually rescued by police, social services, and his family.
Tom Somerset-How, an intelligent history graduate, was allegedly kept enslaved and in squalid conditions (Solent News & Photo Agency)Mrs Somerset-How and Webb are currently standing trial at Portsmouth Crown Court for holding a person in slavery, fraud, theft and ill-treatment by a care worker.
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Webb faces an additional charge of ABH, accused of hitting Mr Somerset-How with a shoe.
Prosecutors allege Mrs Somerset-How, 49, and 50-year-old Webb treated Mr Somerset-How - who is almost blind and needs 24-hour care - as a 'cash-cow', spending £12,000 on items such as lingerie and DJ equipment.
Mrs Somerset-Holmes, who is also lead singer of country band The Belle Adventure, told the court that after she became concerned, she was forced to 'ambush' the pair at the house to gain access to her brother, who suffers from cerebral palsy.
Holby City and Silent Witness actress Kate Somerset-Holmes said she hadn't seen her brother in 'two years' when she allegedly found him in squalor (Simon Czapp/Solent News)
Sarah Somerset-How outside Portsmouth Crown Court (Solent News & Photo Agency)She said she knocked at the home in Chichester, West Sussex in 2018, twice a day for five days, but no one ever came to the door and the curtains would be shut 'all day'.
Eventually, she parked down the road and walked to the door, which is when Mrs Somerset-How finally answered.
But the actress said the woman only opened the door a 'crack' and she wasn't let in.
The West End performer told jurors: "I repeatedly knocked on the door, but it went unanswered. I tried to see into the house, but the curtains were closed.
"I knocked every day. On the last day I was visiting my mum, I decided I would ambush them, because I felt I was being ignored, and I was concerned.
"Sarah answered and opened the door a crack. I could smell cigarettes and marijuana, and I was annoyed they were smoking because I don't think it was good for Tom."
Describing how she gained access, she told Portsmouth Crown Court, Hants: "I parked down the road and knocked on the door. George opened it, and this was the first time I had ever seen him.
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George Webb is charged with holding Mr Somerset-How in slavery as well as fraud and actual bodily harm (Solent News & Photo Agency)"I explained I was going away for a while and had a Christmas present for Tom.
"He was reluctant. I tried to be persuasive and polite, and he let me in - I was very surprised.
"I knew that no one in my family had seen Tom in two years.
"My first impression of the house was that it was squalid. It smelt very strongly of cigarettes and marijuana. The house was dim, and the curtains were closed.
"I assumed correctly that Tom would be in bed, so I made my way there - George went to the lounge straight away to make a call.
"The bedroom was disgusting. Tom was in bed and was incredibly confused and disoriented. He wasn't wearing his glasses. There were clothes and boxes everywhere.
"There were piles of clothes on Sarah's side of the bed, and his wheelchair was folded up with things on top of it.
"Tom smelt terrible, like he hadn't been washed in weeks. I asked him if he had an accident in bed because it smelt of urine, but he didn't know.
"Tom was very, very thin. His nails were long, and his hair was greasy. He hadn't been shaved in weeks. I asked if he was okay, but he obviously wasn't.
"In hindsight, that was a silly question. It was disgusting.
"I told him Simon - my husband - was outside and said we could leave, we could go right now. But he kept repeating, 'I'm fine, I'm fine'."
A year later, in 2019, after Mrs Somerset-Holmes had come back from being abroad, there was a family lunch that her brother and his wife attended.
She told the jury: "Sarah was jovial, and she said in a jokey manner that Tom made her life difficult.
"She was speaking in a way that I found offensive, that he was a burden to her."
It wasn't until 2020 that Mr Somerset-How managed to raise the alarm about how he was being treated with friend Gina Zeelie, who alerted his parents.
They then staged the 'rescue' with police and social services.
Prosecutors say Mr Somerset-How was kept in bed for 90 per cent of the time, only allowed to shower once a week, and was routinely left with just crisps and a sandwich for food.
Dr Louise Baverstock who examined Mr Somerset-How told the court: "He was obviously traumatised. He was very pale and looked malnourished. He was very underweight."
The couple deny all the charges. The four-week trial continues.
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