Family 'may have kept 100 slaves'

8 May 2013 Last updated at 11:10 GMT Tommy Connors Sr and Patrick Connors were jailed at Luton Crown Court More than 100 people may have been held in captivity and forced to work by a Bedfordshire family, police claim.

On Tuesday Tommy Connors Sr, 53, was jailed for eight years and his son Patrick, 21, for five years, at Luton Crown Court.

The men, from near Leighton Buzzard, were convicted last July of servitude, compulsory labour and assault charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service said there may be other similar cases of servitude in operation in the UK.

Police say the Connors family made "huge sums of money" from keeping people with "nowhere else to turn" in servitude at Green Acres site in Little Billington.

£3m in assets

Those held were made to lay block paving or complete domestic chores for no pay.

Describing the conditions in which they were kept, one of the victims said: "They treated me like a slave and that's putting it mildly."

Prosecutors say they have already seized about £1m from the Connors family and identified a further £2m in assets.

The daughter of Tommy Connors Sr and her husband, both travellers, have also been convicted of keeping vulnerable men in servitude and requiring them to perform forced labour.

Numerous men were held at the Green Acres travellers' site near Leighton Buzzard

James John Connors, 34, and Josie Connors, 31, were jailed for 11 years and four years respectively at the trial last year. James John Connors - known as "Big Jim" - was also convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Speaking after the sentencing this week, Det Insp Sharn Basra said: "We believe more than 100 people could have passed through the site over the years and there is no telling how much money Tommy Senior, Patrick, James-John and Josie made from forcing people to work for them.

"When we entered the Greenacres site in September 2011, we found victims who had been with members of the Connors family for more than 15 years and some who had been with them for only a few hours.

"The victims were afraid, living in squalid conditions, had no money or belongings, some suffered from malnutrition whilst others had old fracture wounds that hadn't healed properly and one man even had scurvy.

'Slave-like conditions'

"In stark contrast, Tommy Sr, Patrick, James-John and Josie Connors were living in almost palatial residences, had access to whatever they needed or wanted and were free to do as they pleased."

Baljit Ubhey, chief crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service, said: "It is shocking to hear that such offences can occur in modern times, but this case may not in fact be unique."

Liam Vernon, head of the UK Human Trafficking Centre at the Serious Organised Crime Agency, said: "This is a stark example of an appalling type of exploitation and slave-like conditions that can be seen in the UK.

"Last year there were 529 adults and children referred to the centre.

"They were being controlled and used for their labour and servitude in a whole range of different ways, all for the financial gain of the traffickers."

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30 years jail for family fire killer

8 May 2013 Last updated at 13:26 GMT Melanie Smith claimed 21 witnesses who testified against her were lying A woman who began a fire which killed five members of a neighbouring family must serve a minimum of 30 years.

Mother-of-five Melanie Smith, 43, set Lee-Anna Shiers' pushchair alight in a row over a shared hallway.

Ms Shiers, 20, her nephew Bailey, four, niece Skye, two, partner Liam Timbrell, 23, and son Charlie, 15 months, died after becoming trapped in an upstairs flat in Prestatyn, Denbighshire.

At Mold Crown Court Smith was given five life terms for the murders.

Continue reading the main story

Lee-Anna, Liam, Charlie would still be growing as a young family but instead a despicable person has taken it all away”

End Quote Steve Allen Father of Bailey and Skye Smith wept as the sentence was passed by the judge, Mr John Griffith Williams, who called her action "exceptional wickedness, almost unparalleled in its consequences".

'Hatred'

The judge said the "root cause" of Smith's offending was hatred of another woman, Samantha Schofield. She was motivated by jealousy due to her faltering relationship with Stephen Clarkson, whom she claimed had cheated on her with Ms Schofield.

"That hatred, which was all the more intense because of your drink problem, took over your life," the judge said.

After the sentence, Steve Allen, the father of Bailey and Skye and brother of Ms Shiers, said justice had been served.

"Nothing will ever bring any of our family back to us but Melanie Smith will now be given what she deserves," he said.

Mr Allen fought back tears and had to pause for a moment to compose himself as he continued: "Today is the first step towards grieving for our family. It still doesn't feel real.

The fire victims, clockwise from left: Liam Timbrell; Lee-Anna Shiers and her son Charlie; her niece Skye and nephew Bailey

"Every day that goes by we wish things had turned out differently on October 19, 2012 so my babies and my nephew Charlie would still be here, happy playing and growing and at least we would be able to hear them laughing like they did every day.

"Lee-Anna, Liam, Charlie would still be growing as a young family but instead a despicable person has taken it all away."

Ms Shiers's father and the children's grandfather, Peter Shiers, also said justice was now served and "all our little angels could now rest in peace".

Victims' family members welcome sentence

Communal hallway

Mr Timbrell's mother Stephanie Watson said: "This has been a long, painful road for the families and while nothing can ever bring back any of our children or grandchildren from this terrible tragedy, there is some comfort in knowing that justice has been done, although no sentence can ever reflect the severity of the crime."

Smith was convicted last week of the five murders and of threatening to burn Ms Schofield's home.

During her trial, the jury heard that Smith was in dispute with Ms Shiers because the young mother-of-one left her son's pushchair in the downstairs communal hallway at the property where they both lived in flats.

Continue reading the main story

While nothing can ever bring back any of our children or grandchildren... there is some comfort in knowing that justice has been done”

End Quote Stephanie Watson Liam Timbrell's mother Smith had previously made threats that she would set Ms Shiers' house on fire "with you and [your] kids in it".

On the day of the fire Smith drank 10 alcoholic drinks and set fire to the pushchair using a lighter. Ms Shiers and her family became trapped in their upstairs flat.

Neighbours in Maes y Groes made desperate attempts to rescue the family but were driven back by the fire's intensity and heat.

Ms Shiers and her young nephew and niece Bailey and Skye died in the fire, her son Charlie the next day, and partner Mr Timbrell three weeks later in hospital.

Before he died, Mr Timbrell told a paramedic Smith was responsible.

While giving evidence, Smith said she wanted to take a lie detector test and accused 21 witnesses who testified against her of lying.

'Lovely bubbly girl'

After the guilty verdicts, Ms Shiers' parents, Joy and Peter, said they were "overjoyed".

Paying tribute to her family at the time, Mrs Shiers, 45, said: "Anna was such a lovely, bubbly girl and Liam a very caring dad. Both of them were heroes because we know they would have done everything to rescue the children.

The flat's living room after the fire

"The three kiddies loved each other, they played together all the time. They were our angels. Really, really nice people that will be missed."

Her defence counsel said there were two mitigating circumstances: her previous good history and no previous convictions for involvement with fire. Her defence also said there was no compelling evidence that Smith was aware Skye and Bailey Allen were in the flat the night of the fire.

After sentencing, Karen Dixon from the Crown Prosecution Service said Smith's actions were carried out with "no regard whatsoever for the consequences".

"At no stage has she chosen to take responsibility for those five lives so tragically lost because of her actions," she said.

"Today's sentencing at least ensures she has to face up to that responsibility in a criminal court."

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Speedboat victim 'doted on family'

6 May 2013 Last updated at 16:41 GMT Max Milligan: 'That he and my delightful niece died in their favourite place... provides us with a tiny glimmer of light'

A TV executive who died in a speedboat crash which also killed his daughter was a loving father who doted on his family, his brother has said.

BSkyB sales boss Nick Milligan, 51, and his eight-year-old daughter were thrown from the boat in the Camel Estuary, off Padstow, north Cornwall, on Sunday.

Four other family members struck by the boat were taken to hospital.

Police and the Coastguard praised "brave and heroic" efforts made by local people to rescue the family.

Round in circles

Supt Jim Colwell, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "If people hadn't come to their assistance in the manner they did, I'm confident that this incident would have been far worse in terms of the overall death toll."

Nick Milligan had a holiday home in the area

The injured family members were hit by the vessel - a Cobra rigid inflatable boat (rib), built by APV Marine in Christchurch, Dorset, which can reach speeds of about 50mph (80km/h) - while it was going round in circles.

The boat, which belongs to the family, who are from Wandsworth in south London, was stopped after a local waterskiing instructor jumped on board.

The four injured are a 39-year-old woman and a four-year-old boy - described as having serious, potentially life-changing injuries - and and two girls aged 10 and 12, who have minor injuries. All are said to have leg injuries of varying degrees of severity.

Mr Milligan's brother, Max, said his brother had built his dream family home in the area.

He told a press conference Mr Milligan was an "extremely loving father, husband, son and brother, who doted on his family".

"As children and teenagers, we spent many summers and New Year's Eves in Cornwall," he said.

"That he and my delightful niece died in their favourite place at the end of a gloriously sunny bank holiday weekend provides us with a tiny glimmer of light."

Video shot by a witness showed the moment the speedboat was brought under control

Mr Milligan had been managing director of Sky's advertising sales division, Sky Media, since 2004.

A company spokesperson said: "Everyone at Sky is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic accident involving the Milligan family.

"Nick has been a great friend and colleague for many years and his loss will be felt across our company and the industry. Our very deepest sympathies are with his family at this time."

'Charming, twinkle-eyed man'

Tributes have also been paid by other members of the media.

Stefano Hatfield, executive editor of The Independent newspaper, wrote on Twitter that Mr Milligan was "one of the industry's best and loveliest".

Continue reading the main story Joined the television industry in 1983 at Television South (TVS) Moved to Central Television in 1986 and went on to Thames Television in 1988, staying until 1992Was on the team which established the UK Gold and UK Living channels Became a founding director of Channel 5 in 1996 and stayed at the station until 2003, its first profitable year Became managing director of Sky Media in June 2004

Source: Media Guardian

He said: "Whenever I think of my encounters with Nick Milligan over 20 years, all I can recall is laughter. Lovely, charming, twinkle-eyed man."

Former Financial Times media correspondent Ben Fenton tweeted Mr Milligan was "one of the kindest, nicest funniest men I have ever met."

Police and investigators from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have begun an inquiry into the incident, co-ordinated by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Supt Colwell said a mechanical examination of the boat had taken place, carried out by forensic experts and MAIB inspectors to identify the cause of the "sad and tragic" incident.

About 25 officers were working on the investigation in various roles, and reports were being prepared for the coroner, he added.

The sunny bank holiday weather had drawn a lot of visitors to the harbourside, and the surrounding waters of the Camel Estuary were said to have been calm on Sunday afternoon when the accident happened.

'Heroic' rescuer

At about 15:50 BST, Falmouth Coastguard received a number of reports from members of the public that six people had been thrown from a speedboat.

Dog walker Simon Lewins, from Wadebridge, said he watched as a big, powerful boat going "a bit too fast" suddenly turned right, "depositing" people into the water.

"It kept going off in ever decreasing circles. The screams coming from the people in the water were pretty bad."

Cornwall Coastguard Matt Pavitt : "Someone managed to get on the boat... and prevent further loss of life"

The man who leapt on to the out-of-control speedboat, from another vessel he went alongside with, was named locally as Charlie Toogood, from Camel Ski School.

It is thought Mr Toogood got a rope around the propeller of the out-of-control vessel in a bid to reduce its speed before jumping on board. He then managed to stop it and take it away.

"I tell you what, this guy is a hero," Mr Lewins told the BBC.

Coastguards then helped some of the injured as a helicopter landed on the beach, he added.

The injured were being treated at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Matt Pavitt, the Coastguard sector manager for North Cornwall, said the injured four were "badly shaken up".

He said the 8m (26ft) long vessel had a "very, very powerful engine" and there were reports it was "seen to veer over to one side, causing all six people to end up in the water", resulting in a number of serious injuries.

At a press conference, Mr Pavitt said: "Without doubt, without his [Mr Toogood's] intervention, we could have been dealing a far more serious situation."

Coastguards said the was no speed limit in the area where control was lost of the boat.

Police said they were examining if the vessel had a so-called kill cord - a line attached to the pilot designed to cut the engine if they were thrown away from the helm.

Officers said the presence and state of a kill cord would be a "key focus of our investigation".

Investigators appealed for anyone with photographs or video clips to come forward.

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Speedboat victim 'doted on family'

6 May 2013 Last updated at 16:41 GMT Max Milligan: 'That he and my delightful niece died in their favourite place... provides us with a tiny glimmer of light'

A TV executive who died in a speedboat crash which also killed his daughter was a loving father who doted on his family, his brother has said.

BSkyB sales boss Nick Milligan, 51, and his eight-year-old daughter were thrown from the boat in the Camel Estuary, off Padstow, north Cornwall, on Sunday.

Four other family members struck by the boat were taken to hospital.

Police and the Coastguard praised "brave and heroic" efforts made by local people to rescue the family.

Round in circles

Supt Jim Colwell, of Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "If people hadn't come to their assistance in the manner they did, I'm confident that this incident would have been far worse in terms of the overall death toll."

Nick Milligan had a holiday home in the area

The injured family members were hit by the vessel - a Cobra rigid inflatable boat (rib), built by APV Marine in Christchurch, Dorset, which can reach speeds of about 50mph (80km/h) - while it was going round in circles.

The boat, which belongs to the family, who are from Wandsworth in south London, was stopped after a local waterskiing instructor jumped on board.

The four injured are a 39-year-old woman and a four-year-old boy - described as having serious, potentially life-changing injuries - and and two girls aged 10 and 12, who have minor injuries. All are said to have leg injuries of varying degrees of severity.

Mr Milligan's brother, Max, said his brother had built his dream family home in the area.

He told a press conference Mr Milligan was an "extremely loving father, husband, son and brother, who doted on his family".

"As children and teenagers, we spent many summers and New Year's Eves in Cornwall," he said.

"That he and my delightful niece died in their favourite place at the end of a gloriously sunny bank holiday weekend provides us with a tiny glimmer of light."

Video shot by a witness showed the moment the speedboat was brought under control

Mr Milligan had been managing director of Sky's advertising sales division, Sky Media, since 2004.

A company spokesperson said: "Everyone at Sky is deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic accident involving the Milligan family.

"Nick has been a great friend and colleague for many years and his loss will be felt across our company and the industry. Our very deepest sympathies are with his family at this time."

'Charming, twinkle-eyed man'

Tributes have also been paid by other members of the media.

Stefano Hatfield, executive editor of The Independent newspaper, wrote on Twitter that Mr Milligan was "one of the industry's best and loveliest".

Continue reading the main story Joined the television industry in 1983 at Television South (TVS) Moved to Central Television in 1986 and went on to Thames Television in 1988, staying until 1992Was on the team which established the UK Gold and UK Living channels Became a founding director of Channel 5 in 1996 and stayed at the station until 2003, its first profitable year Became managing director of Sky Media in June 2004

Source: Media Guardian

He said: "Whenever I think of my encounters with Nick Milligan over 20 years, all I can recall is laughter. Lovely, charming, twinkle-eyed man."

Former Financial Times media correspondent Ben Fenton tweeted Mr Milligan was "one of the kindest, nicest funniest men I have ever met."

Police and investigators from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) have begun an inquiry into the incident, co-ordinated by Devon and Cornwall Police.

Supt Colwell said a mechanical examination of the boat had taken place, carried out by forensic experts and MAIB inspectors to identify the cause of the "sad and tragic" incident.

About 25 officers were working on the investigation in various roles, and reports were being prepared for the coroner, he added.

The sunny bank holiday weather had drawn a lot of visitors to the harbourside, and the surrounding waters of the Camel Estuary were said to have been calm on Sunday afternoon when the accident happened.

'Heroic' rescuer

At about 15:50 BST, Falmouth Coastguard received a number of reports from members of the public that six people had been thrown from a speedboat.

Dog walker Simon Lewins, from Wadebridge, said he watched as a big, powerful boat going "a bit too fast" suddenly turned right, "depositing" people into the water.

"It kept going off in ever decreasing circles. The screams coming from the people in the water were pretty bad."

Cornwall Coastguard Matt Pavitt : "Someone managed to get on the boat... and prevent further loss of life"

The man who leapt on to the out-of-control speedboat, from another vessel he went alongside with, was named locally as Charlie Toogood, from Camel Ski School.

It is thought Mr Toogood got a rope around the propeller of the out-of-control vessel in a bid to reduce its speed before jumping on board. He then managed to stop it and take it away.

"I tell you what, this guy is a hero," Mr Lewins told the BBC.

Coastguards then helped some of the injured as a helicopter landed on the beach, he added.

The injured were being treated at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

Matt Pavitt, the Coastguard sector manager for North Cornwall, said the injured four were "badly shaken up".

He said the 8m (26ft) long vessel had a "very, very powerful engine" and there were reports it was "seen to veer over to one side, causing all six people to end up in the water", resulting in a number of serious injuries.

At a press conference, Mr Pavitt said: "Without doubt, without his [Mr Toogood's] intervention, we could have been dealing a far more serious situation."

Coastguards said the was no speed limit in the area where control was lost of the boat.

Police said they were examining if the vessel had a so-called kill cord - a line attached to the pilot designed to cut the engine if they were thrown away from the helm.

Officers said the presence and state of a kill cord would be a "key focus of our investigation".

Investigators appealed for anyone with photographs or video clips to come forward.

View the original article here