Family Convicted Of Keeping At Least 18 Victims As Slaves For Up To 26 Years

By Muk Khatri in Bizarre On 13th October 2017

The twisted Rooney clan forced homeless men into slavery for more than two decades, forcing them to live in squalid caravans, working for little or no money and constantly enduring beatings. The family made more than £1.5 million, which they spent on a lavish lifestyle while their victims suffered; one man even had a concrete slab thrown at his face. Last month, the traveling family was convicted of a string of modern slavery offenses following one of the largest ever investigations of its kind in Britain. Ten men and one woman from the family were jailed for a total of 79 years and seven months at Nottingham Crown Court, the Metro reports.

#1 Modern day slave owners

Eleven members of the same family have been convicted of running a modern slavery ring which kept one of its captives in "truly shocking" conditions for decades. Vulnerable people were forced to work for the Rooney clan for little or no wages, while their pay-masters lived a life of lavish luxury.

#2 The men they targeted

The 11 gang-members, convicted of fraud and slavery charges, enjoyed holidays to Barbados and cosmetic surgery and even shelled out on a Manchester United soccer school, using money earned by their workers. Operating from Traveller sites in Lincolnshire, they targeted victims who were homeless, had learning disabilities or complex drug and alcohol issues.

#3 Filthy caravans

The Rooney clan included 10 men and one 1 woman, who operated a driveway resurfacing company that employed workers to live in caravans without water or toilet facilities, BBC reported. The workers were forced to work long hours to support the “lavish lifestyle” of the family, according to police. One had even worked for the family for 26 years, NTD reports.

#4 18 men illegally held

Police first began the investigation against the members of the Rooney clan back in September 2014 where they issued seven warrants in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and London, BBC reported.Multiple victims were found through police raids, others were later traced. The UK Human Trafficking center said that 18 men had been illegally sent to the sites, according to NTD.

#5 Human trafficking centre

A number of victims were found during the raids or were later traced and the UK Human Trafficking Centre concluded 18 men had been illegally trafficked to the sites. Ch Supt Nikki Mayo said Lincolnshire Police was aware "through intelligence" the workers at two travelers sites were being kept in poor conditions and worked for little money. "The extent of these conditions soon became apparent - the victims were accommodated in caravans without running water or access to toilet facilities," she said, according to the BBC.

#6 Manual labor

The victims were all described as vulnerable adults, aged between 18 and 63, who were often homeless and had been picked up by the defendants from across the UK. Ch Supt Mayo said: "They were being completely exploited - working long hours on driveways and block paving for the family.

#7 Caravans soaked in feces and urine

"This exploitation was illegally funding a lavish lifestyle for the defendants. "While their 'laborers' were suffering, company profits helped to fund luxurious holidays to Barbados, Australia, Egypt and Mexico, the purchase of high-performance BMWs, spa days and even cosmetic surgery."

#8 Chilling in their mercilessness

The two defendants who were the “most culpable” were twins Patrick and John Rooney who were jailed for 15-and-a-half and 15 years and nine months respectively. Sentencing, Judge Timothy Spencer QC said the family was ‘chilling in their mercilessness’.

#9 Medieval peasantry

They also splashed out on spa days, boob job cosmetic surgery and soccer schools at Manchester United. The judge said at Nottingham crown court: "It was like the gulf between medieval royalty and peasantry."

#10 Kept under total control

But their victims were forced to live in horrendous conditions in stinking, filthy caravans and kept under 'total control' through threats of violence, along with drugs and alcohol. Their addictions were also used to exploit them.

#11 Sentencing

Family head Martin Rooney got 10 years, while matriarch Bridget Rooney got seven years. Martin Rooney Snr got nine years. Twins Patrick and John Rooney got 15 years, nine months and 15 years, six months respectively. They were both charged with forced labor offenses as well as other charges.

#12 Some received suspended sentences

Rooney, of Drinsey Nook, Sheffield Road, Saxilby, Lincolnshire, was jailed at the same court on Tuesday after being convicted of wounding and conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labor. Other members of the Rooney family were given custodial sentences ranging from 15 to six years, while two received suspended sentences.

#13 Ages 18-63

The sentencing marks the end of one of the largest modern day slavery cases the UK has ever seen. Homeless victims aged 18 to 63 were trafficked from around the country after being enticed with offers of food housing and work.

#14 Fear, misery and squalor

Commenting after the sentences were handed down, Janine Smith from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “These members of the Rooney family lived lives of luxury at the expense of their victims, condemning them to live in fear, misery, and squalor. For them, exploitation, violence, and extortion were a way of life. Chief Superintendent Chris Davison, head of crime for Lincolnshire Police, said: "The severity of these crimes is underlined by the sentences imposed by the judge.

#15 Teeth smashed out, threats of death

He was beaten with a rake and a shovel and had his front teeth smashed with a concrete slab.Once he was made to dig his own grave and told he would be killed if he did not sign a contract pledging to a lifetime of servitude, reports the BBC. John Rooney is said to have told him, pointing at the hole he had just dug: "If you don't sign this contract that is where you're going. You're going to work for me for the rest of your life."

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