Cleaning slave ‘handed in’ to police

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THE alleged captor of a 26-year-old slave blew the whistle on himself when he took the young man to police to treat his severe injuries.

Nathan Barnes, 26, was allegedly beaten, starved and forced to be a slave for Mervyn John Ferry, 41, and Paula Diane Morrison, from Bathurst between February and August.

Police are baffled as to how Mr Barnes was held captive for six months in an open, clean suburban home, with a low fence and neighbours nearby. Despite having immediate family in the Bathurst area, authorities confirmed that no official missing persons report had been filed.

“It was noted that he was not around, but there was no formal report made to police,” Chifley area commander Michael Robinson said of the “bizarre” case.

Mr Barnes’ situation became known only when Ferry, a Woolworths employee, allegedly showed up at Bathurst police station on August 9 with Mr Barnes in tow. He accused Mr Barnes of assaulting a person, but police found that difficult to believe because of his severe injuries.

Police allege the victim was grossly underweight and had been beaten with a baseball bat, leaving him with two black eyes, fractured ribs, a punctured lung and split lip.

Ferry waited at the front of the police station while detectives spoke to Mr Barnes. He was later taken to hospital.

An eight-member police strike force investigated. Last week it conducted a search on the home at Fish Parade, Gormans Hill, collecting several items as evidence. Detectives returned with a second search warrant on Friday and arrested Ferry and Morrison.

Mr Barnes was allegedly being held against his will in the home where his mobile phone was confiscated and he was forced to perform all cleaning duties. Mr Barnes – who is recovering in a secure location. – paid $130 board fortnightly to Morrison.

Police have charged Ferry and Morrison with 27 offences. They were refused bail in court on Friday.

Officers alleged Mr Barnes was subjected to severe physical and mental abuse and was denied medical treatment.

He had lost almost half his normal weight – 70 kg – during the ordeal which saw him locked in a small children’s cubby house.

Det Supt Robinson confirmed that two adolescents were living in the house at the time and would likely become police witnesses.