NEW YORK (Dagbladet): The shocking case is now being rolled up Carlisle Crown Court in northern England, reports among other things BBC and Sky News.
The victim was rescued from the two-meter-long shed in October 2018 after an anonymous tip. He was then 58 years old. Since then, the case has been investigated.
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Slept in the shower
Swailes initially denied criminal guilt, but changed his position in court Tuesday. His father, Peter Swailes senior, was also charged, but he died in September last year.
ADMITS DEBT: Peter Swailes has pleaded guilty. Photo: Police
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British authorities in The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) describes the case as “traumatic”.
Sentenced after 32 years
According to police, the victim was held in a form of modern-day slavery. For 40 years he slept on the floor in the small, frail shed. When the police found him, he only had a dirty duvet on the floor and a TV with a coin machine.
ARRESTED: Peter Swailes senior was arrested in October 2018. He died in September last year. Photo: GLAA
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There was only one window in the shed, and it could not be closed properly. It was completely dark in the shed when the doors were closed. There was a small broken heater in the corner, otherwise there was no heating.
According to the BBC, GLAA staff at the site pointed out that another shed on the property, which the Swailes family used for their dog, was in far better condition.
Video originally published on dagbladet.no/dbtv.no on 07.12.2014 CATCHED IN THE DARK: This is how peace prize winner Kailash Satyarti has saved over 80,000 children from slavery. Dagbladet has followed the actions in New Dehli. Video: Line Fransson / Nina Hansen
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– Never heard of
The court was told that the victim was forced to perform farm and maintenance work from the time he was about 16 years old. He should only have received ten pounds (about 120 kroner) per day in payment.
Modern slavery is one of the biggest problems facing the world
GLAA writes that he lived under conditions “no human being should live under”.
BAD CONDITIONS:
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– In all my years in the police, I have never heard of a modern slavery case where the exploitation has taken place over such a long period of time. First of all, my thoughts go to the victim. Let us remember that he has been exploited all his adult life until just a few years ago, says head of investigation at GLAA, Martin Plimmer, to the BBC.
He describes the investigation as “upsetting”.
– He is now in his early 60s. This is something that I still struggle to understand. For four decades he was practically kept as a slave, says Plimmer.
The sentencing for Swailes is expected on February 4.
Norwegians made a fortune trading in the slave trade, while Africans worked their way to death
Saved
Swailes, of Low Harker, Carlisle, was bailed and will be sentenced on 4 February. Although he has pleaded guilty, he still claims that he had a “limited” role, and that he was not aware of the circumstances in which the victim lived.
It must have been the father who controlled it all and made contact when he wanted the son and the victim to do work.
On October 3, 2018, the victim was rescued from the shed in Hadrian’s Caravan Park. Peter Swaile’s senior was also arrested and charged with crimes under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.
IN COURT: Peter Swailes junior leaves Carlisle Crown Court on Monday. Judgment in the case is expected in February. Photo: NTB
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– Not all these slavery things left, he said when GLAA told him he had been arrested.
In court on Tuesday, prosecutor Barbare Webster said that the victim will receive follow-up and support.
– He has a place to live, which he is extremely happy with. He is in contact with us regularly. He has a helper, who comes and checks by. He will be taken care of for the rest of his life, says Webster.
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