Connors trial: All five family members guilty of forced labour - Gloucestershire

From the Citizen

ALL FIVE members of the Connors family of Irish Travellers have been found guilty of forced labour at Bristol Crown Court.

Unanimous verdicts were read out one by one by the jury foreman before they were sent down by His Honour Judge Michael Longman.

William (Billy) Connors, 52, his wife Mary (known as Breda), 48, their sons John, 29, and James, 20, all formerly of Gloucester Road in Staverton, and their son-in-law Miles Connors, 24, formerly of Bowling Back Lane in Bradford, were all convicted of conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour between April 2010 and March 2011.

They had also faced a second charge of conspiracy to hold another person in servitude but the trial judge ordered the jury to find the defendants not guilty of that offence.

All four defendants except head of the family Billy Connors wept in the dock as they heard the verdict.

The decision created pandemonium in court six as security staff struggled to maintain order while the verdicts were read out.

Family members jumped to their feet and extra security guards came into court to physically remove relatives.

John Connors' wife was carried from the court after trying to climb out of the public gallery into the dock.

As she left, she wailed: "Please, please, I'm asking you no. Don't do this."

Mary Connors screamed uncontrollably as the first verdict – on her husband - was returned by the foreman.

The foreman continued to return unanimous verdicts on James Connors, John Connors and Miles Connors and, following wild outbursts, Judge Longman ordered the public gallery to be cleared.

Gloucestershire Police officers, who had been sitting in the front row of the public gallery, helped security staff clear the court.

As the jury foreman returned the verdict on Mary Connors, she wept and shouted: "Oh, daddy, daddy, why are you doing this to me? I've never done no wrong to anyone in my whole life."

Noise could still be heard from outside the courtroom as the five defendants were led away to the cells.

Judge Longman said he will hear mitigation this afternoon from the defence before sentencing on Monday.

He thanked the jury for their efforts. "I thank you for your enormous persistence over the last three months," he said. "I know you have given the evidence your direct attention."

During the course of the trial, many of the victims were housed in squalid conditions in caravans at sites including Beggars Roost in Gloucestershire. When paid they received only a pittance and were subject to assaults, theft of benefits, ill-treatment and exploitation.

A year-long investigation including a five month surveillance operation by Gloucestershire Constabulary culminated in March 2011 when officers carried out warrants at sites in Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire and 19 vulnerable people were rescued.

Lead officer for Operation Tundra David Sellwood said: "This was the first investigation of its kind nationally and we faced unique challenges. The rescued men had been victims of the Connors family for up to 30 years; many were 'institutionalised' and did not recognise themselves as being victims.

"The family generated significant wealth off the backs of some of the most vulnerable in society and we are delighted that they have finally been held to account".

Ann Reddrop, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service South West Complex Casework Unit said: "The jury's verdicts conclude a lengthy investigation into the criminal activities of the Connors family and their punitive relationship with those whom they forced to work for them.

"CPS has worked closely with DCI Sellwood and his team at Gloucestershire Constabulary since March 2011 when the Police were about to arrest the offenders.

"The five members of the Connors family who stood trial were charged with offences involving the serious mistreatment of people who, because of their personal circumstances, had little option but to continue to remain with the offenders. The defendants used violence to prevent the victims leaving them or from alerting the authorities to their treatment. They forced them to undertake physically demanding work for long periods. They did not pay them for their work and took advantage of their vulnerable situations.

"There was a very stark contrast in living conditions between offender and victim and the way in which the offenders materially benefited from their criminal activities will be the subject of further applications for confiscation by the Crown under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2003

"This case illustrates the way the CPS and police work together to secure justice in even the most difficult circumstances."

The prosecution was brought under Section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 and carries a maximum sentence of 14 years.

see also The BBC - Traveller family 'wanted my past life over', says victim

The Times - Irish Travellers preyed on vulnerable to live like millionaires

The Daily Mail - Guilty of 'slave trading': Family of Travellers lived in luxury while beating and starving homeless men into state of servitude

Channel 4 - Travellers convicted in homeless forced labour case