Live-in carer accused of keeping patient as a 'cash cow slave' while he had an ... trends now
A live-in carer accused of keeping his disabled patient as a 'cash cow' while he had an affair with the man's wife has told a court he is 'not a wrong 'un'.
George Webb, 50, said he was 'heartbroken' after it was alleged he and Sarah Somerset-How, 49, tried to swindle her 'enslaved' husband Tom out of his inheritance.
Mr Somerset-How, who requires round-the-clock care, was barely kept alive while his wife and her lover treated him 'like a piece of property' and left him a 'prisoner in his own home', a court heard.
It is claimed the 40-year-old was only rescued after his family, police and social services staged a rescue in 'an operation that had the marks of extracting someone as a hostage'.
Giving evidence last month the alleged victim's mother, Helen Somerset-How said she had felt 'threatened' by Webb - but today the carer insisted he had never abused his patient and said he isn't a 'bully'.
George Webb, pictured here outside Portsmouth Crown Court, insisted he had never abused his patient and said he isn't a 'bully'.
Sarah Somerset-How, pictured here outside Portsmouth Crown Court, is alleged to have treated her husband 'like a piece of property'
Somerset-How and Webb are charged with holding a person in slavery and ill-treatment by a care worker.
Webb faces a charge of ABH against Mr Somerset-How after an incident in which he is accused of hitting him with a shoe.
Mrs Somerset-How also faces charges of fraud and theft, but similar charges against Webb were dropped for lack of evidence.
Webb, who began caring for the 'intelligent' history graduate with cerebral palsy in 2016, today told jurors he was 'heartbroken' to hear of the ABH charge upon his arrest.
When asked by his barrister Robert Bryan if he had abused Mr Somerset-How by throwing a football boot at him, Webb said 'absolutely not, never ever'.
He told the jury: 'I've never abused anyone. I'm not an abuser. Tom knows that. I had no idea about this until I got arrested. I have a good name.
'I was kneeling on the floor next to the bed with a cleaning brush, and I didn't realise how close he was to me. There was no way I would have hit Tom even if I was angry.
'I have never thrown a football boot at him. I don't remember this situation. When I got arrested, and I was told about it, I was heartbroken.
'I am not a bully, especially to a vulnerable person. I am not a wrong 'un. If I had done this, I would have left.'
Tom Somerset-How, pictured, has cerebral palsy and requires round-the-clock care, a court heard
Helen Somerset-How, who was awarded an MBE for charity work, previously told the court she visited her son and was horrified to find him living in 'squalor'. Pictured: Helen Somerset-How,
