A businessman accused of keeping two workers as “captive” employees in filthy conditionshas denied thinking he owned them.
Tarmacker and property developer Patrick Joseph Connors is one of four men accused of forcing two men to perform forced labour.
Giving evidence in his own defence the 59-year-old described one of the alleged victims, Michael Hughes, as being “like one of the family” and said he was “his own man”.
Patrick Joseph Connors and his son Patrick Dean Connors, 39, both of Greenway Road,Rumney , Cardiff; son-in-law Lee Carbis, 34, also of Rumney, Cardiff ; and William Connors, 39 of Trowbridge Green, Trowbridge , Cardiff, all deny a charge of “requiring another to perform forced labour” and William Connors also denies assault.
Patrick Joseph Connors and Patrick Dean Connors also deny charges of kidnap, conspiracy to kidnap, and causing actual bodily harm.
In the witness box at Cardiff Crown Court on Monday Patrick Joseph Connors rejected a prosecution claim he had been heard discussing a price and had said £100,000 wasn’t enough for Mr Hughes, who worked for him for 21 years and lived in sheds and caravans on his land before eventually being given a house.
Mr Hughes and a second man, known as Mr K, claim they had to work from little or no money, live in appalling conditions, and were bundled into cars and returned to Connors if they tried to get away.
One such alleged kidnap is said to have taken place outside a benefits office in Aberdeen when Mr Hughes left Cardiff and returned to his native Scotland.
Mr Hughes gave evidence over several days: Alleged victim of forced labour says he did not tell pub friends about his life as he was 'told not to say anything'
He told the court he was grabbed and put into the boot of a car as he went to sign on.
But Patrick Joseph Connors claimed Mr Hughes had always been paid a fair wage for his work but spent it all on drink and drugs and said he stole from him.
“So why go to Aberdeen to collect a man like that and bring him back?” asked prosecutor John Hipkin.
“Because he was like family to us,” Connors told him.
“You found out where he was and went to Aberdeen because you owned him and you kidnapped him,” Mr Hipkin alleged.
Connors replied: “I don’t own anybody. Michael was a free agent.”
'For years they were paid in alcohol or tobacco or for small sums like £10 a day while living in appalling conditions' This is the opening of the prosecution's case
Connors also denied he had ever heard the expression “boosting”, which Mr Hughes claimed meant inflating the price vulnerable customers were asked to pay after work had started on their driveways or patios – something he said he was ordered to do.
“That’s how you can afford your lifestyle,” Mr Hipkin suggested after Connors accepted he owns around 20 properties at the moment and paid £200,000 to build a new house after he knocked down the old one on a 12-acre farm he bought.
“I afford my lifestyle because I have been doing properties,” he said.
The case continues.
see-http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/property-developer-accused-keeping-workers-11308728
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