THE former girlfriend of an alleged victim of forced labour said he would work 80 hours a week and would come home with 'unexplained injuries,' a court has heard.

Four men are on trial at Cardiff Crown Court accused of requiring another to perform forced or compulsory labour between 2010 and 2013.

The defendants are Patrick Joseph Connors, aged 59, his son Patrick Dean Connors, aged 39, both of Greenway Road, Rumney, Cardiff; William Connors, aged 36, of Trowbridge Green, Cardiff; and Lee Christopher Carbis, aged 34, of Witla Court Road, Rumney.

Some of the offences occurred in Peterstone Wentlooge, near Newport and Marshfield.

The charges relate to two men; a 41-year-old referred to as Mr K, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and 46-year-old Michael Hughes.

Samantha Boalch, giving evidence today said Mr Hughes lived with her and her two children for nine years.

She told the court Mr Hughes worked for 'Paddy' Joseph Connors for seven of the years.

She said he would work 60 hours a week, but sometimes this would be 80 hours a week if there was a 'lot of work on'.

Ms Boalch said Mr Hughes' working hours caused problems for the family. She told the court he would be paid £10 to £20 a day, up to £50, but sometimes would not be paid at all.

She had heard all the defendants make threats toward her former partner, including 'Paddy' J Connors saying he would 'knock the rest of your teeth out', the court heard, and 'put him in hospital drag him out of hospital to put him to work'.

Ms Boalch told the court Mr Hughes was, on occasion, collected in the evening after finishing work to ‘go stealing material for work’, including ‘equipment and bricks.’

The court heard Mr Hughes never told his girlfriend that Patrick Joseph Connors had assaulted him, but Ms Boalch told the court he would come home 'every week or every other week' with injuries.

She said: "Michael always used to come home with bruising or sore ribs - unexplained injuries."

"He didn't need to. (Tell me) He would say he had fallen over or fallen into something," she added.

James Doyle, Patrick J Connors' barrister, questioned why Mr Hughes had not told her he was being assaulted.

Ms Boalch said: "This was due to embarrassment."

The court heard Mr Hughes, his girlfriend,and her two children, went on holiday to Tunisia, Benidorm and Salou during the years he was working for Patrick J Connors.

Patrick J Connors is also charged with eight counts of ABH, four counts of kidnapping, and one count of conspiracy to kidnap.

Patrick Dean Connors is also charged with conspiracy to kidnap and one count of kidnapping. Lee Carbis is also charged with kidnapping. William Connors is also charged with ABH.

They deny all the allegations.

Proceeding