GUILTY UK - Peter Swailes 56, *Modern Slavery case* kept disabled man in shed for 40 yrs, Carlisle, Oct'18

[Luwin]

A man has admitted exploiting a vulnerable worker who was kept in a freezing 6ft (2m) shed for 40 years.

Peter Swailes, 56, denied conspiring to facilitate travel of another with a view to exploitation, but changed his plea at Carlisle Crown Court.

The defendant's father, also Peter Swailes, 80, was accused of the same offence but died in September 2021.

It rescued the victim, then 58, from the shed in October 2018.

The hearing heard he had been sleeping on the floor with a soiled duvet.

There was only one window which could not be fully closed and it was in complete darkness when the doors were shut.

The GLAA said the victim had been sleeping in conditions "that no human being should live in".

Carlisle man admits modern slavery of victim kept in shed

 

[ChatteringBirds]

It's hard to know what to say on this one. They stole 40 years of his life. I'm glad he's being cared for now and hope he lives a few more decades and can feel some peace and happiness. I hope he has a huge warm bed and plenty of good food and company.

 

[Luwin]

40 years of that treatment is pretty incomprehensible isn't it! Hard imagine no-one noticing and also that he did not succumb to illness being exposed to the elements like that. I guess his body got used to it. Very sad.

It does say he now has a proper bed and carers thankfully

 

[Luwin]

A modern slaver whose disabled victim was exploited for 40 years has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Peter Swailes' victim was made to work on farms for little pay and slept in a shed, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

Swailes admitted conspiring to facilitate travel of another with a view to exploitation. His father, also called Peter Swailes, 81, faced the same charge but died in 2021.

Swailes, 56, was jailed for nine months, suspended for 18 months.

Carlisle modern slavery boss given suspended sentence

 

[Luwin]

An MP has called for the sentence to be reviewed of a man whose disabled slavery victim was exploited for 40 years.

Peter Swailes Jr, 56, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to a nine-month prison term, suspended for 18 months.

MP Peter Bone raised the issue in Parliament, urging the Attorney General to look at whether the sentence was "unduly lenient".

Solicitor General Alex Chalk MP said he would give the case "close attention".

MP calls for sentence review of Carlisle man who kept slave

 

[dalsglen]

An MP has called for the sentence to be reviewed of a man whose disabled slavery victim was exploited for 40 years.

Peter Swailes Jr, 56, was sentenced at Carlisle Crown Court to a nine-month prison term, suspended for 18 months.

MP Peter Bone raised the issue in Parliament, urging the Attorney General to look at whether the sentence was "unduly lenient".

Solicitor General Alex Chalk MP said he would give the case "close attention".

MP calls for sentence review of Carlisle man who kept slave

Unduly lenient?! No kidding. A complete joke of a sentence.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Peter Swailes: No sentence increase over shed slavery case

 

[Luwin]

Seems crazy that the sentence is deemed as appropriate!

 

[ChatteringBirds]

What is a 9-month-prison-term suspended-for-18-months?

Anyway it's obviously unduly lenient, considering the victim was exploited (tortured, IMO) for 40 years. Years, not days. Someone pleading guilty doesn't give him those decades back. Not to mention he was a particularly vulnerable victim, and all of that doesn't seem to matter to the Court.
But it should matter. Very much.

 

[Luwin]

Breach of a suspended sentence order – Sentencing