A man who was enslaved and forced to live a shed for over 40 years has been freed from his captors after a horrific lifetime of forced labour.
Steven, whose named has been changed to protect his identity, was only allowed out of the filthy shed to work and lived on a diet of sandwiches until he was rescued.
The ordeal began when a family took him in from the care system, aged 15, when they began trafficking him for work.
He was kept in a padlocked shed on a mattress, at an address somewhere in the North, and was not allowed to leave until he was told he could.
The shed had no kitchen, shower or heating and Steven had to use a bucket to go to the toilet.
When he turned 18 he was forced to work long days doing untrained work such as roofing and painting.
His trafficker, who he knew as his boss, would accompany him on these jobs, driving him there and back and making sure Steven carried out the work, despite not doing any himself.
His trafficker would then keep all of Steven’s pay.
He said: "I just got handed £10 every now and again, which I used to buy clothes as I didn’t have a washing machine.”
Steven was also made to carry out various jobs on his trafficker’s home, such as painting and decorating.
When he wasn’t working, he had to stay in the shed living on a diet of sandwiches, although later in his life he was allowed out to drink on a Saturday, which led to an alcohol dependence.
He said: "I didn’t run away, because I had nowhere else to go."
Steven continued this forced labour until he was rescued decades later.
The work resulted in several injuries, including a time when Steven fell through a roof and broke his back and several ribs.
He now cannot work because of the injuries he sustained.
After he was rescued, Steven was helped by the charity City Hearts, which has its biggest centre in Liverpool.
Its staff placed him in a safe house in 2018 and supported him back into regular life.
Steven was diagnosed with severe learning development delay and was illiterate, but with the support of City Hearts, he participated in a college course where he learnt to read and write.
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Steven said: "I now go on daily walks just because I can.
"I enjoy long walks to the shops, watching football and have made new friends during my time with City Hearts.
"I haven’t drunk alcohol since my rescue in 2018, and am proud of my accomplishments at college.
"I now look forward to living independently and beginning another college course.”
