Modern Day Slave, Captive for 40 yrs, Found in Six-Foot Shed in UK
 

Suspected Modern Slavery Victim Thought to Have Lived in Six-Foot Shed for 40 years

58-year-old man found at Carlisle UK site in dawn raid

Independent UK,7 Oct 2018.



Specialist officers have rescued a man who is believed to have lived in a six-foot shed for 40 years.

The 58-year-old was found at a site in Carlisle in a dawn raid on Wednesday by officers from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).

A 79-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences and an investigation is under way.

“The operation has been supported by specialist officers from the National Crime Agency, the Cumbria Housing Department who are investigating possible health and safety breaches, and officers from Cumbria Police,” the GLAA said in a statement.

“Modern slavery exists in a whole range of forms across the UK. If you suspect someone is being exploited or abused, please do not hesitate to get in contact with us.”

The potential modern slavery victim was taken by specialist trauma officers to be medically examined and assessed, said the GLAA.

The raid unfolded at Hadrian’s Camp, one of three licenced sites in the city of Carlisle for gypsies, travellers and the homeless.



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The ‘slave’ was found living inside this shed. Picture: GLAA via PASource:AAP



A staffer who helps run the site told The Telegraph most people knew the man lived in the shed.

“I used to say to him ‘you’ll have to get yourself a flat’ but he didn’t seem to want to move, the shed was where he lived as far as he was concerned.

“He was free to come and go, he’d get lifts into town and that kind of things.”

The staffer said the man appeared to have learning difficulties and he appeared to be looked after.

“They used to feed him and treat him well he was never abused by them, he was treated like one of the family, but lived in the shed.”

Martin Plimmer, a senior investigator with the GLAA, said he had never heard of a victim of modern slavery who had been captive for so long.

“We received a tip-off from a member of the public to a confidential line to say an individual was being held at a location near Carlisle and was being treated as a slave,” he said.

“The initial report was that he had been there for 40 years and that appears at this stage to be the case. I have never heard of a case of modern slavery that has extended for this long, it is incomprehensible and inhuman.”