The Sheriff Appeal Court in Edinburgh has rejected a request by Kevin Booth to overturn a global travel ban. The ruling follows findings that the former racing tipster orchestrated the torture and sexual exploitation of women at his remote Lochdhu Lodge in Caithness.
The "utterly harrowing" videos from Lochdhu Lodge
The court's decision was heavily influenced by a collection of 13 violent videos seized by Police Scotland from Booth’s property in 2019. As the report indicates, these recordings provided a chilling look into the abuse occurring at the secluded Highland estate between 1998 and late 2022. One particularly disturbing video showed an underground chamber that resembled a tomb, where a young black woman was handcuffed to a metal bench.
During these recorded sessions, Booth allegedly used a variety of implements to inflict pain, including a wooden club, a knife, and a "spanked-handcuff." Sheriff Neil Wilson, presiding over the appeal, described the footage as "utterly harrowing" and concluded that the conduct depicted was "nothing other than torture." The evidence suggests that Booth used the isolation of the Caithness estate to trap women far from their support networks.
A 14-day notice requirement for female staff
To prevent further exploitation, the court has upheld strict conditions that limit Booth's autonomy. The current restrictions include a global travel ban that requires him to surrender his passport. Furthermore, the report says that Booth must notify the police at least 14 days before hiring any female employees. This measure stems from a five-year Trafficking and Exploitation Order previously issued by the Wick Sheriff Court.
The legal necessity of these restrictions was reinforced by the findings of Sheriff Eilidh MacDonald. She noted that Booth held a significant "position of power" over his employees, who were often isolated in his extremely remote home. By mandating advance notice to authorities, the court aims to ensure that any future domestic staff are not subjected to the same predatory patterns seen at Lochdhu Lodge.
A history of violence from 1991 to Bradford
The recent findings in Edinburgh highlight a pattern of behavior that stretches back several decades. The source notes that Booth’s criminal history includes a 1991 charge for assaulting students through caning and whipping, an incident that led him to flee the country to avoid prosecution. He eventually received a three-month suspended sentence for those actions.
This predatory history continued into the new millennium. In 2002, Booth was convicted in Bradford for the indecent assault of a Brazilian au pair. That conviction resulted in a two-year period on the Sex Offenders Register and a £2,000 compensation award. These past incidents provide a backdrop to the current allegations of systematic torture and exploitation in the Highlands.
The pursuit of higher court intervention
Despite the recent setback, the legal battle for Kevin Booth is far from over.. His legal team has argued that the previous sheriff acted improperly and that the restrictions were tightened without following proper due process. They are currently attempting to challenge the travel ban in higher courts to seek relief from the current limitations on his movement .
However, several critical questions remain unanswered. It is currently unknown how the higher courts will weigh the arguments regarding due process against the graphic evidence of torture presented by the prosecution. Additionally, the court has not yet specified how it will monitor Booth's compliance with the 14-day notification rule should he continue to operate in the Caithness area.
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