'Slave master Rooney family as bad as brutal Bosnian warlords' says vicar who helped vulnerable victims escape
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A sick slave master family has been compared to brutal Bosnian warlords after slashing vulnerable workers with knives and smashing an employee's teeth in.
Reverend Jeremy Cullimore, who helped free runaway slaves, says the notorious Rooney family are as bad as the warlords he met during his Army service in Bosnia.
He said one man held captive for more than 20 years had his teeth smashed out with a concrete block by one member of the Rooney family, was hit in the head with a rake and sign a contract which was 'life binding'.
Rev Cullimore has spoken out after 11 members of the notorious Rooney family were convicted of modern slavery and fraud offences.
(Image: Lincolnshire Live WS)
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
(Image: PA)
Operating from sites in Lincolnshire, they targeted victims who were homeless , had learning disabilities or complex drug and alcohol issues.
The 11 gang-members enjoyed holidays to Barbados and cosmetic surgery and even shelled out on a Manchester United soccer school, earned off the backs of their workers.
Gang members also revelled in luxurious holidays to Australia, Egypt and Mexico, high-performance BMWs, spa days and cosmetic surgery.
(Image: PA)
(Image: Rex Features)
(Image: Rex Features)
(Image: Rex Features)
The slavery ring was smashed following police raids on traveller sites in Drinsey Nook and Washingborough in 2014, resulting in convictions last week.
Rev Cullimore told Lincolnshire Live that over 2014 and 2015 six escaped slaves were given refuge from the Rooneys through the BeAttitude project at St Mary-le-Wigford Church, along with more than a dozen others who had casual contact with the family and were desperate to severe ties.
He said: "We passed people to the Salvation Army and encouraged victims to talk to the police.
"We operated a day centre at the church and staff from the Nomad Trust would have to come over to escort people from us to the night shelter in Monks Road because the Rooneys' white vans would be waiting in the street. It was like escorting schoolchildren on a trip."
(Image: Rex Features)
(Image: Rex Features)
He added: "I was shocked at just how violent and evil the Rooneys were. They would go around with Stanley knives and slash people, and stage fights in the camps in order to attack people they had taken a dislike to.
"I'm an ex-Army intelligence officer and I spent some time working with warlords in Bosnia in a liaison capacity.
"There was one guy over there who would get his rocks off by tying people to logs and putting them through a saw mill.
"I would say the Rooneys are as bad as any of the people I came across in Bosnia."
(Image: Rex Features)
(Image: Rex Features)
The Rev Cullimore added: "One of the things we did for the victims, who were a combination of English and people from overseas, was to restore their paperwork.
"They had had their passports stolen or taken from them and were living in awful accommodation and if you're a stranger in another country that's a hard situation to get out of.
"The victims are not people who would ordinarily speak to the police but with a bit of encouragement they did just that and the police actually listened to them.
(Image: Rex Features)
"I cannot praise Lincolnshire Police enough. They worked very hard with vulnerable victims in getting hold of the information to convict, and that must have taken a lot of time and money."
The Rev Cullimore said the Rooneys were not the only ones involved in modern slavery around Lincoln and he says people are still at risk of exploitation.
He said: "I was aware of another gang in Lincoln that has had its wings clipped as well. Particularly vulnerable are eastern European migrants because they come over here on their own.
"In the old days before they joined the EU, they would come over on a visa to work contracted hours.
(Image: Rex Features)
(Image: Rex Features)
"Now they are paid by the hour they work, so if the weather changes and they can't work on the land for instance, as happened in the bad winter of 2010/11, things can get difficult for them."
Chief Superintendent Nikki Mayo, Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Pottery, which secured the convictions of 11 members of the Rooney family, said: "Modern slavery is a cruel and extremely demoralising crime and it’s important that people understand that it isn’t just forced labour – victims can be sexually exploited, or forced into committing crimes.
"Although it is often vulnerable people who are targeted, this can happen to anyone. If you believe someone is being exploited please call 101."
How to spot the signs of modern slavery Signs of slavery are often hidden, making it even harder to recognise victims around us. While not exhaustive, here is a list of some common signs which you can be aware of: Physical appearance : victims may show signs of physical or psychological abuse. They may look malnourished or unkempt, or appear withdrawn. Isolation : victims may rarely be allowed to travel on their own or seem under the control and influence of others. They may rarely interact or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work
: victims may rarely be allowed to travel on their own or seem under the control and influence of others. They may rarely interact or appear unfamiliar with their neighbourhood or where they work Poor living conditions : victims may be living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation, and / or living and working at the same address
: victims may be living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation, and / or living and working at the same address Few or no personal effects : victims may have no identification documents, have few personal possessions. They may always wear the same clothes. What clothes they do wear may not be suitable for their work
: victims may have no identification documents, have few personal possessions. They may always wear the same clothes. What clothes they do wear may not be suitable for their work Restricted freedom of movement : victims have little opportunity for free movement and may have had their travel documents retained.
: victims have little opportunity for free movement and may have had their travel documents retained. Unusual travel times : they may be dropped off / collected for work on a regular basis either very early or late at night.
: they may be dropped off / collected for work on a regular basis either very early or late at night. Reluctant to seek help : victims may avoid eye contact, appear frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers. They may fear law enforcers for many reasons, such as not knowing who to trust or where to get help, fear of deportation, fear of violence to them or their family.
If you think a person is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you suspect slavery is happening and there is no immediate threat to life, you can report it by calling the Modern Slavery Helpline 0800 0121 700.
More than 100,000 people, most of them civilians, were killed in the Bosnian war between Bosnia’s Serbs, Muslim Bosniaks and Croats between 1992 and 1995.
It is believed that around 20,000 women were raped.
Bosnian Serb forces commanded by General Ratko Mladic killed around 8,000 Muslim men and boys after the U.N.-protected enclave fell in their hands in July 1995.
Mladic is now on trial for genocide at the United Nations tribunal in The Hague.