A Nigerian au pair was beaten, soaked and left to sleep outside in wet clothes after three children she cared for in England refused to eat supper, a court was told.

Belfast Telegraph reported that Mary Hounga’s employer, Adenike Allen, had pushed her out of the house and told her to die, judges heard.

Details of Miss Hounga’s ordeal emerged in a ruling by the Supreme Court as she won the latest round of a compensation fight.

Supreme Court justice Lord Wilson outlined Miss Hounga’s account of the incident – in 2008 – in a written judgment.

He said: “Mrs Allen was angry to discover the children had not eaten the supper which she had directed Miss Hounga to prepare for them. Mrs Allen smacked and hit Miss Hounga.

After Miss Hounga had put the children to bed, Mrs Allen attacked and beat her, threw her out of the house and poured water over her. That night Miss Hounga slept in the garden in her wet clothes.

“She then made her way to a supermarket car park, where she was found and taken to the social services department.”