Slavery victim receives compensation while ‘others die waiting’

A vulnerable man kept as a slave for nearly 26 years has won a “record payout” after his family sued the government for denying him adequate compensation.

The man, known only as Victim A, waited so long for compensation that his captors, who beat him, fed him scraps and forced him to build access roads for little or no pay, were released from prison.

His sister said the £352,000 compensation payment would fund the ongoing care of her “adorable brother”.

However, lawyers said the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) was “not fit for purpose” after 15 other men held captive with Victim A died before similar action could be taken. CICA said it did not comment on individual cases.

Victim A, who was in her fifties, was kept destitute by the Rooney family at a holiday resort in Lincolnshire while they lived a life of luxury.

The family violently exploited their victims, who were often homeless people or men with learning disabilities, a 2017 trial at Nottingham Crown Court alleged.

When 11 members of the family were convicted, it became the largest modern slavery case in British legal history.

The Rooneys had amassed a £4m fortune from their car-ticketing business, according to a proceeds of crime hearing in 2019 at which they were ordered to pay back £1m, most of it to their victims.

However, Victim A’s sister, who at some point during her captivity had assumed her brother was dead, said she never received “adequate compensation” and was awarded only £12,428 by the court.

Seven years after the trial, he has taken action to obtain a payment from CICA, which is an agency of the Ministry of Justice.

Remaining anonymous to protect her brother’s identity, she said she was “burning with rage” that he had been forced to wait so long.

His wait meant he was unable to finance rehabilitation from injuries inflicted by his captors.

She said she “just wished money could fix it, but it won’t.”

“What we got back was not the man who left us,” he added.

Like many victims of slavery, Victim A was unable to obtain legal assistance to help her obtain compensation.

Lawyer Liam Symonds, who represented him pro bono, said he hoped the case “could be… a platform for other survivors to come forward with their own claims.”

Barrister Jamila Duncan-Bosu, from the Anti-Trafficking and Exploitation Unit (a charity that works exclusively with victims of modern slavery and human trafficking), believes this is a record payment by CICA to a victim.

She said: “He has been treated appallingly and that sum of money reflects the level of harm he has suffered.”

However, he said it was “absolutely unfair” that others had died before receiving compensation.

“There are many victims of trafficking who suffered equally severe treatment and who should also be able to obtain compensation.

“I have had four clients who died while waiting for compensation from CICA.”

‘Broken’ system

According to the charity’s research, nine out of ten victims of slavery die before receiving compensation. The organisation said the CICA was “broken” and called for it to be reformed.

“CICA is not well suited to care for victims of modern slavery, despite it being incredibly common,” Ms Duncan-Bosu said.

“Compensation is essential for victims of trafficking, for their rehabilitation and to help them rebuild their lives, to put an end to this cycle of exploitation.

“This could be someone who works as a nanny or housekeeper, people who work in nail salons, car washes, or people who do forced labor on construction sites.”

A CICA spokesperson added that “no specific provisions are made for victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.”

Ms Duncan-Bosu said another problem facing former slaves was that there was usually no legal aid available to help them apply for compensation.

“The Rooneys had access to advice and assistance (during the trial, as did the victim),” he said. “The victim should also have had access to legal advice and assistance for her compensation matters.”

The BBC has contacted the Legal Aid Authority for comment.

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