A MAN who endured more than 20 years of forced labour told the jury when he escaped to Scotland he was kidnapped, forced into the boot of a car and beaten.

Four men are on trial at Cardiff Crown Court accused of requiring another to perform forced or compulsory labour, against Michael Hughes, between April 2010 and January 2013, after being arrested as part of Gwent Police's Operation Imperial which investigated modern day slavery and forced labour.

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. 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 Mr Hughes.

Mr Hughes giving evidence today said he is originally from Scotland and came to Wales when he was 18-years-old to find work. He was staying in a homeless hostel in Cardiff before finding work carrying out manual labouring.

He spent a few weeks with three different people before being 'bought' by Patrick Joseph Connors whom he calls Paddy.

Mr Hughes initially lived on the floor of a house in Rumney and worked 9am to 7/8pm manual labour. He said he was paid £5 a day.

He then lived for two years in a garden shed next door to the elder Connor's bungalow in Field View in Marshfield.

He told the court he would wrap himself in a quilt and sleep on the floor. He would wash himself with cold water and a bucket.

The court heard while Mr Hughes was in a rotting garage, the bungalow next door belonging to the senior Connors had a swimming pool.

Mr Hughes said: "I had nowhere else to go. I didn't know any one. All the time I was told we'll get you somewhere proper to live in. I though this is going to get better."

The court heard Patrick Joseph Connors was head of a business which carried out tarmacking, paving driveways and general building work. Mr Hughes said the customers were always elderly and 'Paddy' would be asked to be called by different names at different jobs.

Mr Hughes said he accompanied an elderly couple to the bank to take out money.

He said Patrick Joseph Connors would never go to the bank with the customers as it was "too much risk for him in case something went wrong and he got caught."

The court heard he moved into a garage when he was 20-years-old where he lived with Mr K, the other victim and a man known as Bristol Mike.

Mr Hughes escaped to Aberdeen but was kidnapped by Patrick Joseph Connors, his son and Thomas Doran.

The court heard Mr Hughes was staying with a friend from foster care when he went to sign on for benefits. It was here that Patrick Joseph Connors grabbed him, dragged him and 'bundled him into the boot of the car.'

Mr Hughes spent the journey in the boot before they stopped at a service station and he sat in the back.

He told the court that Patrick Joseph Connors told him on the way back from Scotland: "Wait till I get you back to that garage. I told you I would find you anywhere you go - I will find you."

Mr Hughes said the elder Connors beat him when they got back to Wales.

He said: "He used me like a punching bag. He kicked me, got me to the floor and booted me."

He said the beating stopped when he curled up in a ball.

Patrick Joseph Connors is also charged with eight counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and two counts of kidnapping between 1999 and 2002.

He, along with his son Patrick Dean Connors, is also charged with conspiracy to kidnap Mr Hughes between 1996 and 1997.

They are also both charged with kidnapping Mr K between 1997 and 1999.

Patrick Joseph Connors and Lee Carbis are charged with kidnapping Mr K between 2001 and 2002.

William Connors is accused of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Mr Hughes.

They deny all allegations.

Proceeding.