Father and son, 80 and 55, are charged with human trafficking after 58-year-old man was found in 6ft shed ‘where he had lived for FORTY years’
- British man, 58, was found allegedly living in a 6ft shed north of Carlisle in 2018
- Officers found there was no heating, but a duvet and metred TV were inside
- Two men, both named Peter Swailes, aged 80 and 55, appeared in court today
- They are charged with conspiring to commit human trafficking offences
A father and son have been charged with human trafficking offences after an 58-year-old man was found in a 6ft shed where he had allegedly been living for 40 years.
In October 2018 police discovered the British man allegedly being kept in a decrepit green shed in Carlisle, Cumbria.
Officers believe the alleged victim was being kept at the shed since he was around 16-years-old, with the 2018 raid finding a TV, one chair, a makeshift bed on the floor and an electric heater inside.
Two men have been charged with human trafficking offences after officers discovered a 58-year-old man allegedly being forced to live in a shed in Carlisle, in October 2018
Officers fear the alleged victim was being kept at the shed since he was 16-years-old, with officers finding a soiled duvet, electric heater and a metred TV inside
Today two men, both named Peter Swailes, aged 80 and 55, appeared before Carlisle Magistrates’ Court.
Both men live in Carlisle, but at different addresses.
They have been charged with conspiracy to organise the travel of an individual with a view to exploiting them contrary to Section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.
The charges came following a three-year investigation by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, supported by Cumbria Police and the National Crime Agency.
GLAA officers carried out the raid in October 2018, and the 58-year-old was taken away by specialist trauma officers to be medically examined and assessed.
In 2019, senior investigating officer Martin Plimmer said: ‘Our priority since we made the initial arrest has been to ensure that the potential victim has been given all the necessary help and support. This was clearly the right thing to do.
Today two men, both named Peter Swailes, aged 80 and 55, appeared before Carlisle Magistrates’ Court today. They are due to appear before Carlisle Crown Court on April 6
‘When we found him he was like a rabbit in headlights and very confused.’
Investigators found there was no heating in the cramped shed, with a soiled duvet on the floor and a metered television.
Swailes and Swailes are due to appear before Carlisle Crown Court on Tuesday April 6 for a plea and direction hearing.