Family of travellers ‘kidnapped two homeless men and kept them as slaves for 26 YEARS’
The alleged victims were made to sleep in sheds and caravans without heating or running water - and threatened with violence if they tried to escape
A PAIR of homeless men were kidnapped and kept as "slaves" for up to 26 years by a traveller gang who threatened them with violence if they tried to escape, a court heard today.
Patrick Joseph Connors, 59, is accused of heading a violent family gang who forced the two men to live and work in "atrocious conditions".
Today Cardiff crown court heard Connors - along with sons Patrick Dean Connors, 39, and, William Connors, 36, and son-in-law Lee Carbis, 34 - made the men sleep in sheds and caravans without heating or running water.
Victim Michael Hughes was just 19 when he was allegedly taken in by the Connors gang before being made their slave - and was only freed after 26 years.
He was kept along with another man who can only be identified as 41-year-old "Mr K" - and both were both put to work as labourers for tarmacking and general building.
The desperate pair managed to escape the Connors' gang once each - but were quickly hunted down and beaten as punishment at the family property in Cardiff, the jury was told.
Prosecutor John Hipkin told the court: "Both men worked for Connors for many years, in conditions that do not conform to that normal for an employee.
"They would be beaten and threatened. They worked long hours carrying out heavy manual labour and kept on Connors' property.
"They were kept in appalling living conditions - in a shed, a tin hut, a garage, often without the basic facilities of heat or water."
Patrick Joseph Connors denies charges of kidnap and eight of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He is also charged with conspiracy to kidnap.
Patrick Dean Connor and Lee Carbis deny kidnap. William Connors denies assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
All four are accused of requiring another to perform forced or compulsory labour.
The court heard Mr Hughes managed to have a relationship with a woman who became pregnant with his child.
But the relationship allegedly "didn't fit in" with Connors' plans for Mr Hughes.
The court heard he convinced the woman's mother to make the girl end the relationship and have an abortion, claiming he was a drug addict and alcoholic.
One man was also desperate to escape after being caught he jumped out of the gang's moving car.
Mr Hipkin said: "If they became ill or injured they were forced to work.
"If they developed a relationship that would be ended by the control Patrick Joseph Connors had over their lives."
He said the two victim were treated "like objects to be abused".
Mr Hipkin said: "The majority of that work would be illegally-carried out for people who are vulnerable or elderly at a price grossly exaggerated."
The trial continues.