A SCOTTISH court has imposed a first-of-its-kind worldwide travel ban on a millionaire who abused women in an underground Egyptian-themed room in his Highland home.
Kevin Booth, 64, is said to have recruited and beaten vulnerable women from abroad with whips, canes and riding crops at his Lochdhu Lodge in Altnabreac, Caithness.
New court documents show Booth also “violently whipped” women and girls elsewhere – “causing them extreme distress and pain".
The travel ban, which was approved after Police Scotland raised a civil action, prevents Booth – once described as a millionaire racing tipster – from travelling outside the UK for the next five years.
As well as the travel ban, Booth must notify police 14 days before hiring women, such as for housekeeping roles.
Booth must also notify police in advance of any female visitors to the remote property, and police can visit to check on him unannounced.
Booth had arranged and paid for the women to travel from countries including South Africa, Dubai, Sri Lanka and the Philippines, before isolating and beating them.
On Tuesday, Wick Sheriff Court heard how the lodge – a former shooting lodge and hotel – is in a “remote location” at the end of a 14-mile long private road, and includes a trapdoor which gives access to an underground chamber area with a 60m-long curved concrete tunnel.
In a written judgment published, Sheriff Neil Wilson described several instances of abuse including one 18-minute video, which showed a woman who tried to escape but was unable to do so.
Wilson noted: "This video shows the red and black metal contraption in the tomb area of Lochdhu.
"A young black woman is handcuffed to it in a kneeling position. The defender tells her she is being punished for the way she spoke to him.
"He tells her she has to learn her lesson. She appears to be terrified. She is screaming and crying.
"She repeatedly tries to get away but is handcuffed to the bench. The defender swaps implements and continues to beat her.
"She is hysterical. She cries out that it is painful. The defender tells her to 'pray for the strength to take it properly'.
"This continues for the duration of the video: 18 minutes. This appears to be nothing other than torture.
"She is chained to the contraption while the defender beats her. She is apparently terrified and tries to escape but cannot."
Record of abuse
Booth was previously charged with assaulting children in his care at Greybrooks School in 1991, which included caning and whipping.
Prior to trial, Booth fled the UK in an attempt to evade justice, and was convicted in Newcastle on his return in 1994.
He faced five charges of assaulting children and a further charge of failing to surrender to bail.
In 2002, Booth was convicted after trial at Bradford Crown Court of indecently assaulting his Brazilian au pair, then in his employment, and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment.
During the case, it was said he “threatens her with a riding whip, instructs her to remove clothing. Masturbates on top of her”.
Police searched Booth's home in Caithness after allegations were made about his conduct in March 2019.
He later appeared in court in private but a procurator fiscal discontinued the proceedings in March 2021.
Later, in July 2023, a former employee made a complaint to Police Scotland about Booth's conduct to her when she was employed at the lodge for around six months in 2022.
The court judgement stated Booth pressured her into providing him with "sexual services".
Booth has also been investigated for raping a woman in Ireland, but applied financial pressure on her to withdraw her allegation, according to court records.
Following the release of the judgement, detective sergeant Chris Hughes, of Police Scotland, said: "The safety of women and girls is an absolute priority for us and we sought the Trafficking and Exploitation Risk Order as an option open to us to prevent any further offending.
"Trafficking and exploitation is a blight on our communities and has no place in society and we will use all resources open to us to tackle it."
