Carlisle ‘shed slave’ accused admits guilt on limited basis | News and Star – News & Star

A CARLISLE man has admitted a modern-day 'slavery' offence following a high-profile investigation that was triggered by the discovery of man found living in a filthy shed.

Peter Swailes, 56, was today due to face a three-week trial at the citys crown court but he entered a guilty plea to the charge he faced, though the prosecution accepted hehad 'limited knowledge' of the exploitation suffered by the victim, a vulnerable man in his 50s.

Swailes, from Low Harker, north of Carlisle, was originally jointly charged with his father, also called Peter, 80, who lived at Hadrians Caravan Park on Old Brampton Road, Carlisle.

The older defendant denied wrongdoing, claiming the victim chose to live as he did in the unheated 6ft square shed.

But Swailes senior passed away in August last year while waiting for the case to go to trial.

In court today, prosecutor Barbara Webster accepted the basis of plea put forward by Swailes junior, who until today had stood by his not guilty plea to the allegation.

That basis of plea included a statement that the defendant did not live at the north Cumbrian caravan park where the victim was living and was unaware of his squalid living conditions.

But the defendant did accept that the victim had 'on occasions' worked for him and that he paid him less than the minimum wage. Thus his guilt related to financial exploitation rather than living conditions.

The chargehe admitted was that he conspiredwith his father "to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to exploitation".

The father and son were chargedafter a lengthy joint investigation by police and the UKs Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, the body that tackles modern day slavery.

Prosecutors say the 'exploitation' happened between July 31, 2015 and April 25, 2019.

The defendant is likely to be sentenced in early February following the preparation of background reports.

Judge Richard Archer indicated that the sentence he will impose is likely to be one which can potentially be suspended. Judith McCullough, for Swailes, said he was a man in very poor health.

The judge told the defendant: "You have now pleaded guilty to this indictment. "You have done so on a basis, which the prosecution accept.

"The next stage is for me to pass sentence. I have already indicated that this is a case which is so serious that a custodial sentence must follow but I will look with utmost favour on anything in the pre-sentence report or any other documentation which may allow me to impose a suspended sentence ofimprisonment."

At the time the investigation became public, it was widely reported that the victim had lived in the shed for decades.

The prosecution in the case accept that he lived there for a much shorter period, though the man is thought to have been exploited overa period running into decades.

Judge Archer said an aggravating feature of the case was the living conditions endured by the victim and the extent to which Swailes senior had used him.

But Swailes junior had only limited knowledge of his father's offending, the court heard. The victim is now said to be living away from Carlisle and "doing well", the court heard.

Ms Webster added: "He's currently residing elsewhere.

"He has accommodation, which he is extremely happy with and he is in regular contact with his carers, who go in regularly and check on him. He's doing extremely well and he will be cared for till the end of his life because everything has been put in place by the [authorities] for him."

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Carlisle 'shed slave' accused admits guilt on limited basis | News and Star - News & Star