Бывший бездомный получил 6,5 лет тюрьмы за вынужденный труд и насилие со стороны хозяина сарая

A vulnerable man said he was 'constantly looking over his shoulder' after being forced into unpaid labour for more than three years. His ordeal also included physical and verbal abuse at the hands of James Dean Harrison. Harrison, 51, punched and kicked the man after he complained of ill health and refused to carry on working. He and his girlfriend lived in a wooden shed behind his Keresley End home for more than three years after he offered them a place to stay when they were homeless. But what began as a place to stay soon turned into a nightmare for the vulnerable couple, Warwick Crown Court heard. Prosecutor Daniel White said the man was forced to carry out hard physical labour for Boss Skip Hire in Bedworth, emptying and cleaning skips and making deliveries. READ MORE: Police blast 'reckless' driver who hit Keaton Slater and 'left him to die' ‌ READ MORE: Coventry MP who campaigned for justice for Keaton says 'deeply grateful' Mr White said the man worked for six to seven hours a day for as little as £20. Harrison controlled his bank card and took money from his benefits and pension payments. Harrison shouted at the victim when he refused to do jobs and would say: 'Get up. You are going.' He also repeatedly assaulted the man and left him with cracked ribs. Warwick Crown Court heard how the man asked if he could have a bath, but Harrison replied: 'Get in the shed, you scratty old thing.' Harrison also referred to the victim as a 'scrapyard dog' with the judge saying he had treated him 'no little better than your own dog.' ‌ Mr White said the couple had previously lived in a tent on farmland before moving into the wooden shed at the three-bedroom property on Shaftesbury Avenue in November 2022. It had no windows, running wat er, toilet or shower facilities. Bodyworn footage showed the couple living in damp conditions with little or no bedding. Mr White said they had no heating and used a kettle connected to an extension lead to fill bottles with hot water, which they took to bed. Warwick Crown Court heard the couple used a portable toilet which had to be emptied into the yard while also sharing the shed with two dogs. One of the dogs belonged to the man and his girlfriend, while the other was an XL Bully owned by Harrison. ‌ Mr White said the couple endured three winters in the shed, with the man saying he lost five stone while living there after previously having cancer and suffering from COPD. Harrison also exploited the pair by controlling their bank cards and money paid into their accounts. He took control of payments, including Carers Allowance and Universal Credit, and would give them around £20 a day from their own money, Warwick Crown Court heard. Harrison claimed he had access to their accounts to help manage their finances. But instead, he used their money to fund luxury holidays. In April 2025, Harrison used one of the bank cards at the Morgan Tavern and The Lazy Cow in Benidorm, Spain, as well as for two Ryanair payments. When the bank cards expired, Harrison would take the victims to get replacements to keep control of their finances. Harrison also demanded money for electricity and gave them leftovers from his takeaway meals. ‌ Councillor Tim Jenkins learned of their ordeal and raised concerns about their 'squalid' living conditions. Jenkins met the pair on February 18 this year and again five days later on February 23, when they told him about their circumstances and the threats they faced. Both individuals were temporarily housed, and their bank cards were cancelled. Statements were obtained showing that their accounts had been drained through cash withdrawals from ATMs. Warwick Crown Court heard that the victim initially believed Harrison was helping him as he and his girlfriend had been homeless. He had known Harrison for around 25 years. But Harrison exploited their vulnerability by forcing the man into labour for his business and beating him whenever he refused. In a statement read to Warwick Crown Court, the victim said: “ I could not stop crying. I have been constantly looking over my shoulder. ” ‌ Harrison pleaded guilty to requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour between November 1, 2022, and February 23, 2026. Judge Timothy Green told Harrison the victim had been treated 'no little better than your own dog' and described the living conditions as appalling. Harrison was jailed for six and a half years on August 28. He was also ordered to pay the victim a total of £10,000. 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