Woman bailed over slavery charges

A 30-year-old woman charged with slavery-related offences at a Travellers’ site in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, has been freed…

A 30-year-old woman charged with slavery-related offences at a Travellers’ site in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, has been freed on bail.

Josie Connors is the fifth person to be charged with offences in relation to the Greenacres Travellers’ site, which was raided by police on September 11th.

She appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit offences of holding people in servitude and two counts of requiring people to perform forced Labour, Bedfordshire Police said.

She was granted conditional bail to reappear at Luton Crown Court on December 5th along with five men who have also been charged with offences in relation to the Greenacres travellers’ site, which was raided by police on September 11th, a spokeswoman for Luton Magistrates’ Court confirmed.

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Yesterday, Johnny Connors (30) appeared at Luton Magistrates’ Court charged with one count of conspiracy to hold someone in servitude and one count of conspiracy to require someone to perform forced labour.

Mr Connors was remanded in custody on Tuesday until December 5th, Bedfordshire Police said. Mr Connors is another brother of the three Connor brothers charged last week.

James (Jimmy) Connors (23), Tommy Connors (27), and Patrick Connors (19), were all charged with slavery offences and remanded in custody.

Two other people, a 61-year-old woman and a 51-year-old man, were also arrested after agreeing to go to Luton police station to talk to officers, a spokeswoman for Bedfordshire Police said.

The woman has been released on police bail to return to Luton police station on October 31st, while the man was released on police bail pending medical treatment for an ongoing condition.

PA