A Carlisle man’s sentence for modern slavery will not be increased by the Court of Appeal.
MP Peter Bone raised the issue in February, urging the Attorney General to examine whether the sentence imposed on Peter Swailes was too “lenient”.
Specialist officers found the traumatised and vulnerable victim and his outbuilding living quarters which comprised just a chair and soiled bedding when they raided a residential site north of Carlisle at dawn in October 2018.
In care until he was aged 18, the victim was then invited to work for the late Peter Swailes senior.
He had, over time, lived in a horsebox, disused caravan and, for the five years up to 2018, the shed which had no heating, lighting or proper flooring.
This was in stark contrast to a next-door shed in far better condition, which housed the family dog.
He was vulnerable and had an IQ of 59 which was in the lowest one per cent of the population.
His son, 56-year-old Peter Swailes junior, was sentenced in February, having admitted conspiring with others, including his late father, to arrange or facilitate the man’s travel with a view to exploitation.
After the case was reviewed by the Attorney General, Alex Chalk, QC MP, he referred the case to the Court of Appeal.
The court has today ruled that Swailes’ sentence will not be increased.
He was given a nine-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months.
