A woman has spoken of how her landlady nearly drove her to suicide as she treated her like an “unpaid slave” for over a decade.

Jacqueline Whittington, 60, spoke of how she had been “pinched, punched, prodded and kicked” by Farzana Kausar during her time living with her.

Ms Whittington has also told how Kausar took control of her bank accounts, regularly taking her benefit money while withholding money from her.

Speaking in a police interview, Ms Whittington said: “I didn’t know what to do, I really didn’t. I have come that close to killing myself because it has got that bad but the reason I haven’t done it is because of those children.”

Kausar, of Adelaide Crescent in Hove, was found guilty of a modern slavery offence following a three-week trial at Lewes Crown Court.

A jury returned a unanimous verdict on Thursday, October 13, also convicting Kausar for seeking to pervert the course of justice.

The Argus: Farzana Kausar was convicted at Lewes Crown CourtFarzana Kausar was convicted at Lewes Crown Court (Image: NQ Staff)

During the trial, Ms Whittington recounted multiple incidents of physical and emotional abuse, including being pulled over a table by her hair by Kausar and having a car door slammed on her ankle.

Ms Whittington, a recovering alcoholic, was regularly given strict bedtimes as well as having her alcohol consumption regulated.

Ryan Richter, prosecuting, said: “Over the years, Mrs Kausar began to control more and more aspects of Ms Whittington’s life.

“She gradually isolated her and abused her in such a way that Ms Whittington became dependent upon Mrs Kausar.

“Although physically ‘free’, it is the prosecution case that Ms Whittington, as a vulnerable adult, was controlled by Mrs Kausar and made to work as an unpaid domestic servant, cooking and cleaning for the family and caring for her children.”

The jury also heard how Kausar attempted to have Ms Whittington retract statements made in her police interview and pin the blame on the landlady’s sister, Shadnam, and Michelle Ormiston, a nanny for the family who alerted social services to the issue.

Judge Christine Laing remanded Kausar in custody ahead of her sentencing hearing which will take place on Thursday, November 10.