(Image source: RTE)
In a horrific case of abuse, a man described as having a “very low” IQ was forced to live in a disused caravan, a horse box and a cramped 6ft shed in the UK, for over 40 years.
According to RTE, a man called Peter Swailes Snr gave the man various jobs to do since he first invited him to do some work when he was just 18. Swailes himself lived in a large chalet on the residential site near Cumbria. When he died last year at 80, he was awaiting trial for offences under modern slavery laws.
The man was discovered in 2018 when police were given a tip-off that he was living in a horse box. Swailes’ son, also called Peter, admitted conspiring with his father to exploit the man, but he said that he did not know the full extent of the man’s living conditions. However, he did say that he thought the man was sometimes paid less than his minimum entitlement.
In court, it was alleged that the man was living in very squalid conditions and that he had very few possessions collected over his years of work. The City Hearts charity, which provides support to survivors of modern slavery, is providing support and assistance to the man, who is now in his 60s.
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