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Vulnerable man was subjected to 'modern day slavery' | Vulnerable man was subjected to 'modern day slavery' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A vulnerable man was forced to work unpaid for 13 years in "modern day slavery", according to prosecutors. | A vulnerable man was forced to work unpaid for 13 years in "modern day slavery", according to prosecutors. |
Horse farmer David Daniel Doran, 42, pleaded guilty midway through his trial to making homeless Darrell Simester, from Kidderminster, perform forced or compulsory labour. | Horse farmer David Daniel Doran, 42, pleaded guilty midway through his trial to making homeless Darrell Simester, from Kidderminster, perform forced or compulsory labour. |
Judge Neil Bidder QC said this was "a case of 13 years of exploitation". | Judge Neil Bidder QC said this was "a case of 13 years of exploitation". |
His father Daniel Doran, 67, who faced the same charge, was formally found not guilty at Cardiff Crown Court. | His father Daniel Doran, 67, who faced the same charge, was formally found not guilty at Cardiff Crown Court. |
Mr Simester, 44, whose family thought he was missing, had been living in squalid conditions at Cariad Farm near Newport. | |
He had been picked up on a dual carriageway by a member of the Doran family following a trip to the seaside at Porthcawl, the jury had heard. | |
He was offered work at the family farm in Peterstone, Newport. | He was offered work at the family farm in Peterstone, Newport. |
But the work turned out to be forced labour and his accommodation was a rat-infested shed with no washing facilities. | But the work turned out to be forced labour and his accommodation was a rat-infested shed with no washing facilities. |
He ate two meals a day on his own in the outbuilding and for more than a decade he was not given soap and never used a toothbrush. | He ate two meals a day on his own in the outbuilding and for more than a decade he was not given soap and never used a toothbrush. |
"I used the horse trough to have a wash," Mr Simester told the jury. | "I used the horse trough to have a wash," Mr Simester told the jury. |
During his time at the farm, he fractured his hip after falling from a horse but continued to work despite the pain he was in and was only taken to hospital two days later where he had to undergo surgery. | |
He had told the court he was "terrified" of Doran and his father. | He had told the court he was "terrified" of Doran and his father. |
On Wednesday, midway through the trial, Doran admitted forcing Mr Simester to work unpaid during the period from April 2010-13. | |
The judge said there had been a total of 13 years of exploitation although there was no evidence Mr Simester had faced threats of violence while he was there. | |
The crown decided not to pursue the case against Daniel Doran. | The crown decided not to pursue the case against Daniel Doran. |
'Horrific state' | 'Horrific state' |
Mr Simester was found in 2013 by police after a campaign by his family led to a tip-off that he was being held at the farm. | Mr Simester was found in 2013 by police after a campaign by his family led to a tip-off that he was being held at the farm. |
The jury heard that his family struggled to recognise him when they tracked him down in a "horrific state" with a chest infection, a hernia and calloused feet. | The jury heard that his family struggled to recognise him when they tracked him down in a "horrific state" with a chest infection, a hernia and calloused feet. |
Prosecutor John Hipkin said: "We have considered the case in consultation with the Simester family and the chief crown prosecutor and the crown will not seek a verdict against the first defendant." | Prosecutor John Hipkin said: "We have considered the case in consultation with the Simester family and the chief crown prosecutor and the crown will not seek a verdict against the first defendant." |
Doran's defence barrister, Nick Barraclough, told the court that he was a "man of good character, with no previous convictions". | Doran's defence barrister, Nick Barraclough, told the court that he was a "man of good character, with no previous convictions". |
After the hearing Catrin Attwell, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales complex casework unit, said: "Over a number of years, David Daniel Doran preyed on Darrell Simester's vulnerability. | After the hearing Catrin Attwell, senior crown prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wales complex casework unit, said: "Over a number of years, David Daniel Doran preyed on Darrell Simester's vulnerability. |
"This case demonstrates that modern day slavery exists within our local communities. I hope that today's guilty plea will help Darrell Simester and his family as they seek to move forward with their lives." | "This case demonstrates that modern day slavery exists within our local communities. I hope that today's guilty plea will help Darrell Simester and his family as they seek to move forward with their lives." |
Sentencing was adjourned for reports to be compiled. | Sentencing was adjourned for reports to be compiled. |