'Worst UK gangmaster' sued in modern slavery case

A British company dubbed 'the worst UK gangmaster ever' is being taken to the High Court by victims of modern slavery for alleged abuse and mistreatment.

In one of the first cases of its kind, six Lithuanian men are accusing Kent-based DJ Houghton Catching Services Limited, and the company's director and secretary, Darrell Houghton and Jacqueline Judge, of liability for trafficking and subjecting them to severe labour exploitation.

Leigh Day has begun a legal action against the company and its owners and is seeking compensation for the claimants.

A hearing scheduled today in the High Court will determine whether the defendants should be allowed to delay the litigation proceeding further until 2016. Leigh Day said the application will be 'vehemently opposed'.

Shanta Martin, head of the modern slavery case team at the firm, said: 'Our clients just wanted to work for a decent living to support themselves and their families. Instead, they found themselves indebted, abused and working extremely long hours without proper pay. They now face homelessness and destitution.'

The men, who were aged between 19 and 58, were employed by the defendants between 2008 and 2012 to catch chickens bound for processing plants. However, the claimants allege they were housed in overcrowded and dirty accommodation, and subjected to intimidation, harassment, and physical abuse from supervisors who hit and kicked them if it they did not work fast enough.

The men claim they were driven across the UK, travelling up to seven hours between farms, before working in filthy conditions without adequate protective equipment. The men were not paid for time spent travelling and requests to stop for toilet breaks were denied.

The claimants were to be paid per chicken caught. Their wages, which were not the statutory minimum, were allegedly 'docked' for such offences as leaving a mug unwashed.

One of the men, Antanas Galdikas, described his treatment at the time as: 'We felt trapped. We felt we were being treated like slaves.'

In August 2012, the claimants escaped to a Citizens Advice Bureau. Five of the men have been officially recognised as victims of trafficking by the National Crime Agency's UK Human Trafficking Centre, with the sixth in the process.

DJ Houghton was condemned as 'the worst UK gangmaster ever' by the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA). GLA's chief executive, Paul Broadbent, said: 'The treatment of workers in this case was horrific. It's a shocking example of an utter disregard for the welfare of workers.'

**UPDATE**

The High Court has dimissed the defendants' attempt to have the trial delayed until 2016.

At a hearing in the High Court yesterday (11 August 2015) before Master Yoxall, the Houghton defendants argued that the case should be delayed until next year so as to allow them more time to prepare their defence. Despite knowing about the claim since April 2015, they argued they needed more time to review documents that their own counsel described as 'in a state of chaos'.

However, Master Yoxall ruled that a further six month extension was too long, and ordered that the Houghton defendants file and serve their defence by 30 October 2015. Following filing of the defence, all other steps in the litigation can commence, including the setting of the date for trial.

'We’re very pleased,' said Leigh Day's Martin. 'Our clients want to be able to regain control over their lives, which compensation would greatly assist them with. [The] result is an important step forward in achieving that outcome; the sooner the case can be finalised, the sooner our clients can get on with the rest of their lives.' 

John van der Luit-Drummond is deputy editor for Solicitors Journal
john.vanderluit@solicitorsjournal.co.uk | @JvdLD