THE jury in the trial of four men accused of forced labour have been sent out to consider their verdict.

Farm owner Patrick Joseph Connors, 59, of Greenway Road, Rumney, Cardiff; his son Patrick Dean Connors, 39, of the same address; William Connors, 36, of Trowbridge Green, Cardiff; and Lee Christopher Carbis, 34, of Witla Court Road, Rumney are all on trial at Cardiff Crown Court.

The group were arrested as part of a Gwent Police operation into forced labour.

The four men, who are all on bail, deny a charge of requiring another to perform forced or compulsory labour between April 2010 and January 2013.

The charges relate to Michael Hughes, 46, who claims he was made a “slave” at Ton y Pill Farm in Peterstone for more than 20 years. They also relate to a second victim, Mr K, aged 41, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The prosecution allege both men were vulnerable.

Judge Neil Bidder QC summing up yesterday directed the jury to return not guilty verdicts against Patrick Dean Connors for a count of conspiracy to kidnap Mr Hughes and also a not guilty verdict against William Connors for a count of ABH against Mr Hughes.

Judge Bidder said there was some 'confusion' over which William Connors also known as 'Billy' had allegedly assaulted Mr Hughes.

The judge said Mr Hughes in his evidence said Patrick Dean Connors was present when he was allegedly kidnapped from a benefits office in Aberdeen but that he was only young and didn't participate.

Over the course of the trial, the jury have heard that both men lived in a garage, caravan and tin shed.

They claim they were paid £10 a day for manual labour work such as tarmacking drives for Patrick Joseph Connors' business. They both claim they had to 'boost' prices and that the majority of work was for elderly or vulnerable customers.

Both men say they were made to work seven days a week up to 16 hours a day.

Mr K said the conditions of the caravan was so disgusting that he wouldn't put ' his pet dog in there.'

He also said he didn't run away at first as he felt like he had 'invisible shackles' and was scared for his safety.

Judge Bidder told the jury that they cannot find Patrick Joseph Connors guilty of the allegation of requiring another to perform forced or compulsory labour if they do not find one or more of the other three defendants guilty of this charge.

This is because the Coroner and Justice Act 2009 which came into force on April 6, 2010, is after when Patrick Joseph Connors is alleged to have stepped down from the tarmacking and driveway business.

But Judge Bidder said it is the prosecutions' case that Patrick Joseph Connors 'encouraged or assisted' one or more of the other defendants in committing the offence. The prosecution say the three other defendants had to ask Patrick Joseph Connors' permission to put Mr Hughes to work.

Both Mr K and Mr Hughes claim Patrick Joseph Connors who they call 'Paddy' beat them when they didn't 'boost' prices to his satisfaction or after running away.

Patrick J Connors denies all allegations and said he treated Mr Hughes like 'one of the family.'

Patrick Joseph Connors is also charged with eight counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts of kidnapping and one count of conspiracy to kidnap Mr Hughes between 1996 and 1997.

He and his son Patrick Dean Connors are also both charged with kidnapping Mr K between 1997 and 1999. Patrick Joseph Connors and Lee Carbis are charged with kidnapping Mr K between 2001 and 2002.

They deny all allegations.

Proceeding.