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19/12/2012
Traveller Family Put Behind Bars For Forced Labour
Five members of a traveller family have been jailed for a total of 18 years.
They were found guilty of forcing men to work for them for as little as £5 a day and beating their victims, at Bristol Crown Court.
The victims lived in caravans on travellers sites as they moved around working for the Connors' paving business.
The court heard that their victims were homeless or addicts.
William Connors, 52, was jailed for six and a half years and his wife Mary, 48, received two years and three months.
The couple's son, John, 29, was jailed for four years. Their other son James, 20, got three years detention in a young offender institution. Son-in-law Miles Connors, 24, received a three year prison sentence.
They were all convicted last Friday.
Many of the victims were beaten with brush handles, belts and shovels and also punched by the Connors.
They were also given very little food and this forced them to eat from rubbish bins.
Meanwhile, the Connors lived in luxury caravans fitted with flat screen televisions and fitted kitchens.
They also enjoyed exotic holidays.
Passing sentence, Judge Longman said: "Most were homeless, relying on hostels or night shelters at best for their accommodation. Some suffered from mental health difficulties.
"All were vulnerable in some way and it was this vulnerability which was exploited by the defendants for their own commercial gain."
(CD)
They were found guilty of forcing men to work for them for as little as £5 a day and beating their victims, at Bristol Crown Court.
The victims lived in caravans on travellers sites as they moved around working for the Connors' paving business.
The court heard that their victims were homeless or addicts.
William Connors, 52, was jailed for six and a half years and his wife Mary, 48, received two years and three months.
The couple's son, John, 29, was jailed for four years. Their other son James, 20, got three years detention in a young offender institution. Son-in-law Miles Connors, 24, received a three year prison sentence.
They were all convicted last Friday.
Many of the victims were beaten with brush handles, belts and shovels and also punched by the Connors.
They were also given very little food and this forced them to eat from rubbish bins.
Meanwhile, the Connors lived in luxury caravans fitted with flat screen televisions and fitted kitchens.
They also enjoyed exotic holidays.
Passing sentence, Judge Longman said: "Most were homeless, relying on hostels or night shelters at best for their accommodation. Some suffered from mental health difficulties.
"All were vulnerable in some way and it was this vulnerability which was exploited by the defendants for their own commercial gain."
(CD)
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