Traveller family ran slave labour ring for decades
A TRAVELLER family has been convicted of running a modern slavery ring after one of the largest operations of its kind in Britain.
Eleven members of the Rooney clan forced 18 vulnerable men to work for little or no money over decades – while they took holidays in Barbados, Australia, Egypt and Mexico.
They also splashed out on high-performance BMW cars, spa days, cosmetic surgery and even a Manchester United soccer school.
Operating from traveller sites in Lincolnshire, they targeted people who were homeless, had learning disabilities or drug and alcohol issues.
The labourers, who were put to work tarmacing or repairing properties, were forced to live in run-down caravans, or in stables, with little or no heating, water or toilet facilities.
They were also poorly fed, sometimes given family leftovers – even though they had worked for hours. They were also denied medical help when ill or injured.
Members of the family found their victims on the streets, in hostels and shelters, offering work for food and accommodation.
But they made sure, through false promises, drugs, alcohol and violence, that they kept total control over their victims, including their bank accounts.
Beatings
The Rooneys also used “threats” and “violence”, including punishment beatings.
The 11 gang members were all found guilty of fraud and slavery charges.
Their victims, aged from 18 to 63, were freed after raids by Lincolnshire Police and the National Crime Agency in 2014.
One of them had been working for the family for 26 years. Some of the gang also got four elderly homeowners to sign over properties worth a total of £528,000.
They sold three of them on – one for £250,000. Stolen property, including a pair of cemetery gates, was also recovered at the sites.
After four trials resulting in convictions, the full scale of the offending can finally be revealed after a ruling at Nottingham Crown Court yesterday.
The investigation alone was vast, with 1,830 statements taken from 939 people.
Chief Supt Nikki Mayo of Lincolnshire Police, who led the anti-slavery operation, said afterwards: “The tragedy in this case is that the victims will never get those years of their lives back.
“Modern slavery is a cruel and extremely demoralising crime.”
The gang members will be sentenced at a hearing next month, which is expected to take place over four days.