Alleged slave master James Davis has ‘many females’ turn up to court to support his bid for freedom

A man accused of keeping a sex slave is in a polyamorous relationship with many women, a court heard. Today, they turned up to court.

An accused slave master has attempted to muzzle the media in his bid for freedom as his ‘many females’ turned up to court to support him.

James Davis, the self-described patriarch of the “House of Cadifor”, fronted the NSW Supreme Court on Wednesday in an attempt to be bailed following his arrest earlier this year.

The former ADF soldier has been charged over the alleged oppression of a woman in Sydney’s eastern suburbs between 2012 and 2015.

Police have alleged that she was coerced into prostitution, for which she received no pay.

Mr Davis, 40, is facing three charges - reducing a person to slavery, possessing a slave and causing a person to enter into or remain in servitude.

His defence barrister Ian Lloyd told the court on Wednesday that Mr Davis was living openly in a “polyamorous relationship with aspects of BDSM”.

James Davis lived in a polyamorous relationship before his arrest on slavery charges earlier this year. Picture: ABC.

He has been in custody since he was arrested at an Armidale Bunnings in central NSW following an Australian Federal Police investigation.

Mr Lloyd applied to Justice Helen Wilson for a non-publication order over the bail hearing, arguing any media reporting would prejudice Mr Davis’ rights to a fair trial.

“The amount of allegations contained in the prosecution statement of facts will give rise to sensationalist journalism, which has already taken place,” Mr Lloyd said.

Mr Lloyd also pointed to a group of “many, many females” who sat at the back of the court who he said had come to lend their support for Mr Davis.

James Davis had several female partners before his arrest. Picture: ABC

He described the women as Mr Davis’ partners and said one of them was prepared to give evidence at his bail hearing.

Following his arrest, the AFP set up a hotline for any other potential victims.

“And since the AFP, in their wisdom, have been trawling for further complaints, the matter has been sensationalised,” Mr Lloyd said.

“And I have a major fear that will continue by my comments being made today on aspects of the crown statements.”

A group of women, described as James Davis partners, leave the Supreme Court in Sydney on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett

A group of woman described as James Davis’ partners sat in the back of the Supreme Court in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Joel Carrett.

Justice Wilson on Wednesday afternoon said she did not enough time left in the day to hear a bail application and application for a non-publication order, given it would likely take several hours.

The matter will return to court at a later date.