Eleven members of a notorious Lincolnshire family have been convicted of modern slavery offences and fraud.
The Lincolnshire Police led Operation Pottery investigation into the Rooney family based in Lincoln, Saxilby, Pontefract and Beaconsfield began in 2014 and was one of largest of its kind in the UK, consisting of over 49 hours of suspect interviews, over 2,000 lines of enquiry and 1,830 statements from 939 people.
In total, 18 people were victims of the human trafficking masterminded by the Rooneys.
Victims were kept in caravans on travellers sites without running water or access to toilet facilities, and in some cases the electricity to them was dangerously obtained from a nearby pylon.
One man is believed to have been kept for an incredible 26 years.
The men were incredibly vulnerable, with some suffering from learning disabilities or mental health issues.
Others were completely dependent on alcohol or drugs and were identified especially by the family as being vulnerable.
The victims were adults aged between 18 and 63 and were promised by the Rooneys that they would be looked after in return for work.
They ended up working long hours tarmacking driveways and block paving for the family by using stolen materials and tools.
The men even had to collect scrap, sweep, tidy up or look after pets around the sites.
For this, they lived next to the dog kennels, were often given the family’s leftovers as food, and were ‘paid’ in tobacco and alcohol, which only exacerbated their addictions.
To go to the toilet, the victims had to use nearby woods and fields.
While this exploitation was ongoing, the Rooneys lived a life of luxury, taking luxurious holidays to Barbados, Australia, Egypt and Mexico, purchasing high performance BMWs, spa days and even cosmetic surgery.
The following will be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on September 7, 8, 11 and 12 after being found guilty of the following offences:
John Rooney, 31, of Drinsey Nook, Sheffield Road, Saxilby: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, conspiracy to defraud, fraud by false representation, theft (two counts).
Patrick Rooney, 31, of Drinsey Nook, Sheffield Road, Saxilby: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, fraud by abuse of position, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, theft (two counts).
Bridget Rooney, 55, of Drinsey Nook, Sheffield Road, Saxilby: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour
Martin Rooney, 35, of Sainfoin Farm, Gatemoor Lane, Beaconsfield: conspiracy to defraud, converting criminal property (two counts)
Martin Rooney, 57, of Drinsey Nook, Sheffield Road, Saxilby: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, unlawful wounding.
Martin Rooney, 23, of Drinsey Nook, Sheffield Road, Saxilby: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm
Patrick Rooney, 54, of Sainfoin Farm, Gatemoor Lane, Beaconsfield: converting criminal property
John Rooney, 53, of Chantry Croft, Pontefract: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour (two counts).
Peter Doran, 36, of Washingborough Road, Lincoln: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.
Gerard Rooney, 46, of Washingborough Road, Lincoln: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.
Lawrence Rooney, 47, currently in prison: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.
The following two individuals were found not guilty of these counts:
Eileen Rooney, 32, of Drinsey Nook, Sheffield Road, Saxilby: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour, theft, fraud.
Nora Rooney, 31, of Drinsey Nook, Sheffield Road, Saxilby: conspiracy to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.
Enforcement around Operation Pottery began on September 22, 2014 when seven warrants were executed almost simultaneously in three force areas – Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and London.
In total six people were arrested – three from Drinsey Nook and three from Washingborough in Lincoln.
The enforcement involved police officers from across the East Midlands alongside the National Crime Agency.
Lincolnshire Police set up a reception centre where staff from a number of agencies including the NHS, Social Services, British Red Cross and the UK Human Trafficking Centre joined together to support six victims of modern slavery who were transported from the sites – two from Drinsey Nook, three from Washingborough and one who had relocated to the Nomad Centre, Lincoln.
Having previously located two other victims, detectives later traced a further 10 vulnerable men who had been able to leave the sites.
‘Cruel and demoralising crimes’
Chief Superintendent Nikki Mayo, senior investigating officer, said: “This has been our force’s largest and most complex investigation into modern slavery and we are delighted to get the right outcome for victims.
“The focus of this case has always been the victims, ensuring that they get the help and support they need to live their lives free from the treatment they received at the hands of the defendants.
“The greatest positive of this case is that so many of the victims have now got their lives back, they’ve got a real second chance at some peace and happiness and to grow and flourish in their communities – it’s very much deserved.
“They were not given training for the manual labour and although not physically trapped, they were financially, emotionally and physically abused making any escape seem impossible.
“Victims who did pluck up the courage were often searched for by the family and if located, returned and put back to work.
“The men were also subjected to threats of violence and intimidation by the defendants and some were assaulted.
“If they needed to go to see a doctor, visits were frequently delayed and advice often totally disregarded, and over time the victims became completely institutionalised and isolated from society.
“Some were financially trapped making any escape seem impossible, as victims bank accounts were used to pay for gym membership, materials used by the business and even a soccer school course at Manchester United.
“Over time and during our interviews, I’m pleased to say the victims have come such a long way and the difference in their appearance and self-confidence has been remarkable.
“It was challenging to gain their trust at first but with the help of Lincolnshire County Council Social Services, health providers, the British Red Cross and housing providers the men regained confidence and control of their lives.
“Modern slavery is a cruel and extremely demoralising crime and it’s important that people understand that it isn’t just forced labour like this – victims can be sexually exploited, or forced into committing crimes. Although it is often vulnerable people who are targeted, this can happen to anyone.”
Targeting vulnerable people
The investigation also uncovered four properties that had been obtained from vulnerable and often elderly people.
Victims were encouraged to sign over their properties for prices well below their market value.
In total four properties were signed over with just one victim obtaining his house back through the civil courts.
In the other cases one victim in Douglas Crescent, Hayes, had signed shares in his property over to Martin, 35, and John, 31, with them set to inherit his share through his will.
Another victim had inherited a house in Brook Road, South Brentford, Middlesex following the death of his parents and sister.
He had alcohol issues and developed dementia. He signed his property over to John Rooney, 31, on the condition the place would be renovated and he was allowed to lease the property back – this never happened.
The victim was then moved to Sainfoin Farm – the address of Patrick, 54, and Martin, 35.
His health deteriorated, his dementia became more severe and he was moved to Drinsey Nook.
Soon afterwards he was admitted to Lincoln County Hospital with foot problems after being left at A&E by the Rooney family.
He was treated and subsequently moved into a care home near Gainsborough. He never had any visitors and died there in November 2014.
Meanwhile John Rooney sold the property receiving £250,000 and payments were also made by John to Patrick, 54, and Martin, 35.
Chief Superintendent Mayo added: “The really sad part of this man’s story is that we were able to trace his friends and family who were not aware of his death so hadn’t attended his funeral.”
Patrick Rooney, 31, had also befriended a vulnerable couple convincing them that they were related. The couple agreed to sign over their property and it was agreed that Patrick Rooney would share any profits with them.
This never happened and the couple were moved to Drinsey Nook and later to Washingborough where they were charged rent for a caravan by John Rooney, 31.
The local authority stepped in and rehomed the couple as a caravan was completely unsuitable accommodation given the females complex health needs.
Patrick Rooney, 31, cleared the debts on the property in order to sell it for £62,000.
Again vulnerable and elderly residents were the victims who were befriended over short periods and persuaded to transfer the deeds of their properties in return for being ‘looked after’, having the property refurbished or debts being paid off.
Operation Pottery by numbers:
Three trials between November 2016 and August 2017
49 hours of suspect interviews
Over 2,000 lines of enquiry pursued
1,830 statements recorded from 939 people
4,200 exhibits seized
27,000 pages of served evidence
Four caravans, three jack hammers, 70 packs of bricks, three power generators, a camping pod, a Labrador, and gates from Lincoln Cemetery seized
£8,000 seized from those convicted
Conned vulnerable residents out of three houses to the value of £528,000
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There have been 263 new coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday and three COVID-related deaths, compared to 195 cases and two deaths this time last week,
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 204 new cases in Lincolnshire, 36 in North East Lincolnshire and 23 in North Lincolnshire.
On Thursday, two deaths was registered in Lincolnshire and one in North Lincolnshire. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county. North Lincolnshire deaths have now hit 300.
NHS England reported four new local hospital deaths, including two at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust and two at Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.
On Thursday, national cases increased by 9,985 to 4,154,562 while deaths rose by 323 to 122,070. Some 18.6 million have had their first jab.
In local news, the latest NHS England figures show that nearly 240,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Lincolnshire so far.
The weekly data released on Thursday shows 237,027 jabs have taken place between December 8 and February 21 — up by 34,228 on the previous week. However, that figure is lower week on week (36,828 last week and 38,365 the week before).
The UK’s COVID-19 alert level has been downgraded as the threat of the NHS being overwhelmed recedes.
The UK’s chief medical officers said the alert level should move from 5 to 4 as the numbers of patients in hospital are “consistently declining and the threat of the NHS and other health services being overwhelmed within 21 days has receded”.
Level 4 means transmission of COVID-19 is now “high or rising exponentially” compared with level 5, the highest level, where there was “a risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed”.
Police have handed out nearly 70,000 fines to people for breaching COVID-19 lockdown rules since they came into force, with more than 6,000 issued in a single week, new data shows.
Figures published by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) on Thursday show that a total of 68,952 Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) were issued by forces.
GCSEs and A-levels cancelled in England by the pandemic will be replaced by grades decided by teachers, the exams watchdog Ofqual has confirmed.
Schools can determine grades this summer by using a combination of mock exams, coursework and essays.
More surge testing will be rolled out in Ealing after additional cases of the coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa were detected.
It is an extension of testing which was started in the west London borough earlier this month following the discovery of previous cases.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate numbers up to February 25 according to the government dashboard:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Feb 17 to Feb 24. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Thursday, February 25
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
53,054 cases (up 263)
37,468 in Lincolnshire (up 204)
7,969 in North Lincolnshire (up 23)
7,617 in North East Lincolnshire (up 36)
2,060 deaths (up three)
1,513 from Lincolnshire (up two)
300 from North Lincolnshire (up one)
247 from North East Lincolnshire (no change)
of which 1,213 hospital deaths (up four)
752 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (up two)
41 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
419 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up two)
4,154,562 UK cases, 122,070 deaths
DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF the latest update. postcode data includes deaths not in healthcare facilities or in hospitals outside authority boundaries.
Lincoln City manager Michael Appleton has committed his future to the club by signing a new four-year contract.
Appleton arrived at the Imps in September 2019 and currently has Lincoln dreaming of promotion to the Championship, as they currently sit in second place in the League One table.
His work hadn’t gone unnoticed, with Championship side Bristol City heavily linked to the former Oxford United manager, but he has pledged his future to the Imps with a contract that will run until 2025.
Lincoln City chairman Clive Nates was pleased to keep the 45-year-old boss at the club, saying: “I am delighted that Michael has signed a new contract through to 2025.
“The successful transformation of the squad and a promotion push in his first full season is remarkable, even more so considering the curtailment of last season and a significantly lower pro budget.”
The manager isn’t the only one to sign on the dotted line on Thursday, with forward Anthony Scully and midfielder Remy Howarth also being given new contracts at the club.
Scully, 21, has been in great form for the Imps this campaign, scoring 12 goals in 34 games and he has been rewarded with a two-year deal, expiring in June 2023.
Howarth, 23, joined Lincoln on a free transfer in the summer, after impressing during a trial at the club, and will sign a one-year extension on his contract.
Remy was “so excited” to sign for The Imps, says boss Michael Appleton. Photo: Lincoln City FC
Remy has featured 17 times this season, scoring twice, and said he is delighted to be staying at the LNER Stadium.
“I couldn’t be happier and prouder to be a part of this football club, I have enjoyed my time so far working under the gaffer (Michael Appleton).
“I’m so grateful for the support of the fans and I look forward to feeling their support behind us in the stadium soon.”
Anthony Scully, 21, has been in electric form for The Imps this season. | Photo: Lincoln City FC
Anthony Scully said his time at Lincoln has been the best of his career so far, praising the club for helping his progress.
“I have to say a big thank you to the gaffer, backroom staff and all the players since I arrived one year ago.
“Being a Lincoln player has been the happiest I’ve felt in football and I look forward to the next few years together and what we can achieve.
“Also, I want to say a massive thank you to all of the fans for the support they have shown since I’ve joined, I can’t wait to have them all back in the stadium and enjoy the journey together.”
The Imps’ First Team Manager Michael Appleton. | Photo: Lincoln City Football Club
Imps boss Michael Appleton was full of praise for Remy and Anthony, both of which he signed in his first year in charge.
He said: “We are really pleased to keep Anthony at the club beyond this season.
“He has developed well over the last 12 months and will help continue to improve and grow the club in the next few years.
“He’s a great lad to have around the place and I’m looking forward to watching him develop.”
Appleton continued: “Remy is a young player who has worked very hard this season. We are delighted to see him commit himself to the club beyond this season.”
The news will be a boost to the Imps’ promotion hopes, ahead of their next League One match away to Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
A prolific and aggressive beggar who caused issues in Lincoln and North Hykeham has been issued with a criminal behaviour order by Lincolnshire Police.
The man caused issues particularly around The Forum in North Hykeham and the Tritton Road retail parks in Lincoln — but police would not name him.
He failed to engage with support offered to him and became very aggressive with his begging. This included approaching cars that were pulling into car parks and opening their doors to ask for change.
He was also abusive to shop staff who asked him to stop harassing their customers.
The man already had an existing CBO from the Nottinghamshire area for similar behaviour, but that only applied to areas within that county.
On one occasion, he also told Lincolnshire officers he did not care about criminal behaviour orders. A CBO was issued to the man after work between Lincolnshire Police and the city council’s intervention team.
Lincoln Police said: “We are sure he will when our city centre team start arresting him for breaches and he finds himself facing a custodial sentence.
“This is slow painstaking work building up a real picture of the individual’s behaviour for the court but it will ultimately reduce the negative impact he has had on the community.
This comes after police said in September last year that there had been an increase in the number of people begging at The Forum in North Hykeham.