British Man Kept Trafficked 'Slave' In Dog House, Forced Victim To Work For Family For 40 Years

A man has admitted exploiting a vulnerable victim who told investigators he had lived in a 6ft shed on a residential site north of Carlisle for 40 years.

On Tuesday, Peter Swailes Jr, 56, pleaded guilty at Carlisle Crown Court ahead of his scheduled modern slavery trial. Previously, he pleaded not guilty to conspiring with his father, Peter Swailes, 80, to facilitate the travel of an individual between 2015 and 2019 amid exploitation schemes.

The charges came after a three-year probe by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in conjunction with the Cumbria Police and the National Crime Agency (NCA), the Independent reported.

After receiving a tip-off to a confidential helpline, a search warrant was executed at Hadrian's Caravan Park on Oct. 3, 2018, leading to the arrest of the elder Swailes on suspicion of offenses under the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

GLAA and NCA officers knocked on the door of the shed and were greeted by the unkempt victim in his late 50s. The man, seemingly agitated, would reveal he had lived there for 40 years while working on farms, painting, slating, and tarmacking. He was paid as little as £10 (US$11.35) a day for his services.

Following the rescue operation, the victim received specialist treatment and now lives in supported accommodation where he is in regular contact with authorities and will be cared for until the end of his life, according to Prosecutor Barbara Webster.

“First and foremost in my mind at this time is the victim. We are sadly all too aware of the fact that he will be traumatized by his experience for the rest of his life,” GLAA senior investigating officer Martin Plimmer said per BBC.

“I am committed to ensuring he continues to have the regular, consistent support he needs, which allows him to lead as normal a life as he can in the circumstances,” he added.

Further investigations found that the victim had been sleeping in conditions "that no human being should live in'' after police noted that the shed only contained a metered TV and a soiled mattress on the floor. The space had one window, which did not close entirely; but had no lights or heat.

GLAA officers said they found a nearby shed used for the family dog and was in a better condition than the one the man used, the New York Daily News added.

The Swailes patriarch denied the allegations but died last year. Meanwhile, Swailes Jr. was bailed and will return to court for sentencing on Feb. 4.