Who is James Robert Davis? Ex-soldier and cult lord kept cadet as slave for 3 years, forced her into prostitution
A former soldier accused of slavery charges for the alleged psychological, physical and sexual abuse of a woman in Sydney between 2012 and 2015 was arrested on Thursday, March 16. James Robert Davis, 40, has been charged with three offenses including possessing a slave and causing a person to remain in servitude was arrested in a Bunnings car park at Armidale in northern NSW under modern slavery laws.
Police allege that he subjected the woman to physical, sexual and psychological abuse and degradation during the three years that he kept her as a slave at Maroubra in Sydney's eastern suburbs.
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"[She] was coerced, manipulated and threatened to be involved in a bondage lifestyle, where there was alleged coercion and control," Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough said on Tuesday, March 16, according to reports. "She was in slave-like conditions, there were aspects of... a slavery contract, and there were aspects of a slave collar and a slave tattoo. She was forced into prostitution with no pay. She was threatened with physical abuse and threats of death if she left that circumstance." Gough also added that Davis was "known as being the patriarch of the group, the House of Cadifor — which has been described as a cult".
According to the latest reports Davis' barrister Ian Lloyd QC told the court today that while the case was "strange", it was "very defendable". "My client has said all along he's done nothing wrong," Lloyd told Armidale Local Court via a video link. Lloyd had also said Davis's five partners supported him, one of whom is 17 weeks pregnant. "They are living with him in a polyamorous relationship with elements of BDSM. Nothing that has occurred is a slave relationship or non-consensual," he said. But the prosecutor told the court the alleged victim had been forced to do sex work without payment, her finances were controlled, and that she had been kept against her will and physically assaulted. Reports reveal that the alleged victim was a cadet training at the NSW Police academy in Goulburn.
According to the latest reports, when refusing bail late this afternoon, Magistrate Vivien Swain told the court she did not feel that any bail conditions would improve the risk of jeopardizing the alleged victim's safety or any potential interference with witnesses. Reports say that after the bail hearing, Davis's five partners left court without making any comment.
Police hope more complainants will now come forward in relation to the matter. In order to encourage potential victims to speak up, they have established a hotline. "We know it’s difficult for members [of the public] to provide such information," Gough said. "The circumstances of this case are very, very serious, but we do encourage anyone who has information to report to us."
Who is James Robert Davis?
40-year-old James Robert Davis served in the second Gulf War. He also worked as a prison officer at Silverwater and Long Bay jails.
In a documentary trailer filmed three years ago, Davis described himself as a "rope performer, fetish photographer, BDSM writer, kink educator, lifestyle dominant, consent advocate, sex-industry professional, slut enthusiast, unlicensed gynaecologist ..." The video also features four women kneeling before Davis as they seem to recite a "slave" number. They go on to add that they have missed him and are ready to serve. "Everyone knows who we are that weird polyamorous family.... we're the polygamist sex cult," he said in a video posted online.
Local reports reveal that the 40-year-old was banned from the grounds of the University of New England where at least one of his partners studied. According to the latest reports, the three slavery charges carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in jail, while servitude offenses carry a maximum 15-year term.