Conspiracy Solicitors represented one of eleven members of a Lincolnshire Family prosecuted for the exploitation of 18 victims in the United Kingdom’s biggest modern slavery case. The case concluded in September 2017.
The case at Nottingham Crown Court was part of Operation Pottery, a Lincolnshire Police / NCA joint investigation and one of the largest of its kind.
Police began operations against members of the family in September 2014 when seven warrants were executed in Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and London.
A number of victims were found and the UK Human Trafficking Centre concluded 18 men had been illegally brought to the sites.
Solicitor Stuart Wild had conduct of the case from the very beginning at the police station and was thereafter assisted by Barrister Nigel Edwards from St Paul’s Chambers in Leeds and Diana Ellis QC of 25 Bedford Row, London.
After the trial got underway the Conspiracy Solicitor legal team successfully negotiated with the prosecution to offer a plea of guilty to requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour contrary to section 71 of The Coroner’s and Justice Act 2009 and not proceed with more serious charges of Conspiracy and three counts of fraud contrary to Section 1 Fraud Act 2006.
This resulted in a significant reduction in the client’s sentence. Whilst others received sentences in excess of 15 years, our client received a six year jail term.