Carlisle man admits modern slavery of victim kept in shed
 

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A man has admitted exploiting a vulnerable worker who was kept in a freezing 6ft (2m) shed for 40 years.

Peter Swailes, 56, denied conspiring to facilitate travel of another with a view to exploitation, but changed his plea at Carlisle Crown Court.

The defendant's father, also Peter Swailes, 81, was accused of the same offence but died in September 2021.

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) said the case in Carlisle had been "traumatic".

It rescued the victim, then 58, from the shed in October 2018 after receiving a tip-off to a confidential helpline.

The hearing heard he had been sleeping on the floor with a soiled duvet next to a metered TV.

There was only one window which could not be fully closed and it was in complete darkness when the doors were shut.

An old electric heater with damaged wiring had been left in the corner of the shed, and there was no other heating inside.

The GLAA officers noted that another shed on site used for the family dog to sleep in was in a far better condition.

The court was also told he was made to carry out work on farms from about the age of 16, painting, slating and tarmacking. He said he was paid as little as £10 per day.

Swailes, of Low Harker, Carlisle, was bailed and will be sentenced on 4 February.

The court heard he changed his plea on the agreed basis of his "limited" involvement with the victim and that he had not been made aware of his living conditions.

From time to time, Swailes senior would make contact and arrange for his son to work with the man, the hearing was told.

However, Swailes junior accepted that, on occasion, he paid the man he had known for many years "less than his minimum entitlement".

Investigators from GLAA were supported by Cumbria Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA) in rescuing the victim.

A search warrant was executed at the Hadrian's Caravan Park near Carlisle on 3 October and Peter Swailes senior was arrested in his static caravan on suspicion of offences under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

When the GLAA told him he was under arrest he said: "Not all this slavery thing again."

The GLAA said the victim had been sleeping in conditions "that no human being should live in".

Providing an update on the victim, prosecutor Barbara Webster said: "He has accommodation that he is extremely happy with. He is in regular contact. He has a carer who comes in and checks him.

"He will be cared for until the end of his life."

GLAA senior investigating officer Martin Plimmer said it had been "a really harrowing investigation".

"In all my years in law enforcement, I have never known a modern slavery case where the exploitation has taken place over such a long period of time," he said.

"First and foremost in my mind at this time though is the victim. Let's remember that he has been exploited for all his adult life up until just a few years ago.

"He is now in his early 60s. This is something that even now I struggle to comprehend. For four decades, he was in effect kept as a slave."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-60043132

that would cost £1500 per week in London

So grim...look how close that shed is to the boundary fence...did the neighbours not notice a man living in a shed

That's horrific

The guy would of been better treated in prison
And the fact the son is saying he never knew how the guy was living is bollox

So if he got £10 a week where was he supposed to spend it at
Why didn’t he try escape, fence looks low enough
My only guess is that the father and son knew something and were blackmailing the man
But for forty years
I mean come on

It don’t work like that
He more than likely had learning difficulties and was living on the streets was offered work and a home they then exploit them and threaten them with violence

Plus where would they go

The police and social services

To scared to go, some that get rescued won’t give evidence against those that kept them in slave labour

Apparently this rescued man was discovered by an anonymous tip off

Which makes you wonder who knew and for how long they knew, and what made them crack

It could be as simple as someone new coming to visit the property he was at.

There was a campaign after other modern day slaves were rescued in similar circumstances

It encouraged people if they saw people working that looked vulnerable, to ask them discreetly if they were ok and happy

The authorities make lots of people live in just as bad if not worse conditions.

Don't just make an example of this one crazy nutter. Make examples of all the crazy nutters who do the same.

He is going to get a slap on the wrist.

This country‘a government is far from perfect but you can’t compare them to this mans situation

The old saying you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink is a true saying

Some times some people can’t be saved from themselves

Sounds like the man has been with them at least since he was a teenager and he's in his late 50's now, he probably has no idea what the real world is like and has probably been groomed and manipulated his whole life

Definitely the fact he has a career now tells the story