A FARM owner accused of forcing a vulnerable man to work for him for more than 20 years saved him from dying on the streets, a jury heard today.

Patrick Joseph Connors, 59, is one of four members of the same family on trial at Cardiff Crown Court after Michael Hughes, 46, claimed he was made a “slave” at Ton Y Pill Farm in Peterstone.

Standing trial are Patrick Connors Sr, of Greenway Road, Rumney, Cardiff; his son Patrick Dean Connors, 39, of the same address; William Connors, 36, of Trowbridge Green, Cardiff; and Lee Christopher Carbis, 34, of Witla Court Road, Rumney. They are all on bail.

They deny a charge of requiring another to perform forced or compulsory labour, against Mr Hughes, between April 2010 and January 2013.

The charges also relate to a second victim, Mr K, aged 41, who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Mr Hughes, who was homeless before meeting Connors aged 18, claimed he lived in a rotting garden shed, a caravan and tin hut during his time working at the farm.

Cardiff Crown Court heard today from Gaynor Mahoney, 62, from Rumney – who let Mr Hughes stay with her rent free in 2003 and has been a family friend of the Connors' for 25 years.

Mrs Mahoney took Mr Hughes in after a mutual friend, Raymond Price, told her that he had nowhere to go after splitting up with his long-term girlfriend at the time.

Mrs Mahoney said that even though Mr Hughes was not working for him at the time, Patrick Connors Sr would occasionally pop around to see him at her house.

She said: “I thought he was Mikey’s family – I only found out later that he wasn’t. Pat Sr would sort of pass the house and he’d stop the car and they’d shake hands and what have you.

“Mikey said if it wasn’t for Mr Connors, he’d be dead on the streets in Aberdeen.”

Cross-examining, prosecutor John Hipkin asked: “Did you ask him at any stage in those months he was living with you, or another occasion you remember, what he was doing in the years before?”

Mrs Mahoney replied: “He had a bad life in Scotland.”

He then queried: “Did you ever ask Patrick Connors where he [Mr Hughes] had been living beforehand?”

She said: “Why would I?”

He replied: “Because he worked for Patrick Connors?”

She said: “He was out working. He was always well fed, he was always well groomed.”

Proceeding.