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Connors family members jailed for servitude offences | Connors family members jailed for servitude offences |
(35 minutes later) | |
A father and son have been jailed for keeping vulnerable men captive and forcing them to work. | A father and son have been jailed for keeping vulnerable men captive and forcing them to work. |
Tommy Connors Sr, 53, was jailed for eight years and his son Patrick, 21, for five years at Luton Crown Court. | Tommy Connors Sr, 53, was jailed for eight years and his son Patrick, 21, for five years at Luton Crown Court. |
Both men, from Bedfordshire, had been found guilty in July 2012 of servitude, compulsory labour and assault charges. | Both men, from Bedfordshire, had been found guilty in July 2012 of servitude, compulsory labour and assault charges. |
But a jury was discharged at a separate trial after failing to reach verdicts on other charges against both men and James Connors, 25, and Tommy Jr, 27. | But a jury was discharged at a separate trial after failing to reach verdicts on other charges against both men and James Connors, 25, and Tommy Jr, 27. |
The jury at Luton Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on any of the charges against them after deliberating for more than two days. | |
The Crown Prosecution Service said it would not be pursuing a retrial. | The Crown Prosecution Service said it would not be pursuing a retrial. |
Passing sentence, Judge Michael Kay said Tommy Connors Sr had targeted men who were "homeless or addicted and isolated" whom he knew he could exploit. | |
Men, often out of work and homeless, even alcoholics, would be recruited at soup kitchens and off the street with the promise of paid work, food and lodgings. | |
"It was a monstrous and callous deceit" the judge said. |