A NSW man, 40, will appear before Armidale Local Court on March 17 to face slavery and sexual servitude offences laid by the Australian Federal Police. The former Australian Defence Force member was charged with three slavery and sexual servitude offences after being arrested outside an Armidale hardware store by plain-clothed Australian Federal Police tactical members at around 8 am on March 11. Police allege the man manipulated an alleged victim between 2012 to 2015 into a “cult.” The victim is said to have been allegedly subjected to ongoing physical, sexual, and psychological abuse and degradation during the period. The woman also underwent an alleged physical assault by the man and allegedly received death threats upon expressing her wishes to leave. Maximum penalties range between fifteen to twenty-five years in prison. The man’s charges include reducing a person to slavery, intentionally possessing a slave, and causing a person to enter …