CAUGHT AND IN COURT SPECIAL: 27 Years In Prison For A Gang Found Guilty As Part Of Operation Imperial

At Cardiff Crown Court today, the jury reached a verdict regarding the four defendants under investigation by Operation Imperial, for modern day slavery. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The jury made a finding of guilt regarding offences of forced labour, conspiracy to kidnap, four counts of kidnap and numerous counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Following the guilty verdict, the judge immediately commenced sentencing…. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Patrick Joseph Connors: 8 counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, 1 count of conspiracy to kidnap, 1 count of forced labour and 4 counts of kidnap – TOTAL 14 YEARS IN PRISON ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Patrick Dean Connors: 1 count of kidnap and 1 count of forced labour – TOTAL 6 AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

William Connors: 1 count of forced labour – TOTAL 4 YEARS IN PRISON ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lee Carbis: 1 count of kidnap – TOTAL 2 AND A HALF YEARS IN PRISON ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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On hearing today’s verdict, the following statements have been made….. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chief Superintendent Paul Griffiths, who led the investigation, said: “I welcome today’s verdict for the victims in this tragic case. This has been a lengthy investigation, commencing in 2013 and these convictions demonstrate that the police and authorities will pursue those responsible and bring them to justice. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These types of crimes have a lasting effect on the victims – it is not just the physical degradation, it’s psychological too. It causes deep and long-lasting trauma. We will always ensure that anyone coming forward has access to the support services needed to help them rebuild their lives. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“In circumstances like this, victims live in fear of the people controlling them. This is why the help of the public is paramount. People in the heart of our local communities are often the ones who can spot the signs of exploitation and help those who are unable to help themselves. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would urge anyone who may have concerns or information to contact us immediately, by calling 101. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Finally, I would like to thank all the officers who have worked tirelessly on this investigation. It is both the courage of the victims and the drive and determination of officers from Operation Imperial, working with other partners, that has made today’s outcome possible.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Michael Hughes, who was a victim for 26 years said: “I am over the moon at today’s verdict. Both myself and my family can now move on and I am so happy to have my life back – a life that I never knew existed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the help and support of my family, I am now re-building my life. I am getting out and about and meeting new people. I also have a job, which is helping me make new friendships. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Those people stole my life but the outcome of today’s trial means that they will now face the justice that they deserve. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I would like to thank my family for their support and the officers in Operation Imperial for all their hard work, which has made it possible for me to move forward and hopefully find some happiness.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr K, who was a victim for 6 years said: “I am very pleased with today’s verdict. I would like to thank the Operation Imperial team for their determined investigation and for bringing this case to trial. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“For a long time I felt unable to make a complaint about how I was treated and it’s only been in the last few years that modern slavery has been recognised. This should not be happening. I am thankful that Gwent Police believed and supported me throughout this investigation and helped me to move on with my life. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I intend to soldier on and I do not want people to feel sorry for me. I am taking one step at a time and things are a work in progress. I just want to get on with my life now, without having to look over my shoulder. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Even though I’ve managed to escape from them many years ago, I have never been totally free. It’s been one of the hardest things I’ve had to do, coming forward and I couldn’t have done that without the support of my family and the members of Gwent Police, who have been involved in this case. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Now I can move on and close that chapter of my life, in small steps, day by day.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​