A FAMILY of travellers looked on in disbelief as they were convicted of exploiting a “vulnerable” man who was powerless to escape their years of intimidation.

Jurors unanimously found Christopher Joyce and his daughters Mary Joyce and Helen Collins guilty of requiring Nicholas Iliff to perform forced or compulsory labour at the Redbridge Hollow travellers site where they all lived.

Senior investigating officer Det Chief Insp Mark Glover, from Thames Valley Police’s major crime unit, said Mr Iliff’s lifelong learning disability stopped him from fleeing the servitude of the family, whom he lived with for 35 years.

The 52-year-old victim, who lived in a brick shed described as unfit for a human, was paid very little for “menial” and “demeaning” tasks, while the travellers pocketed his benefits.

Mr Glover added: “I would like to acknowledge the bravery of the victim for coming forward and speaking to police about what happened to him.

“The defendants claimed that the victim was like a family member, but the evidence showed that no family member was treated remotely like he was.

“He was a vulnerable man who had no family or friends that he felt he could turn to, and he felt he had nowhere else to go. I hope that this conviction will demonstrate that treating another person like this will not be tolerated.”

The jury of six men and six women returned its guilty verdict at Oxford Crown Court yesterday after more than 10 hours of deliberation and following a four-week trial.

During the trial, prosecutor Nigel Daly told jurors Mr Iliff was forced to carry out “back-breaking” work, mainly for Christopher Joyce – who was known as the “king” of the site.

He said Mr Iliff was forced to work for more than 12 hours a day doing tasks such as laying tarmac, block paving, collecting scrap metal and carrying out chores for the travellers.

Jurors were told the victim, who left school with no qualifications and was estranged from his mother, dislocated his shoulder five times in almost four years because of the hard labour.

He was also left with a serious injury to his arm, which forced him to require immediate medical attention, after attempting to lift a heavy washing machine.

Mr Iliff was introduced to the family when Christopher Joyce’s son Michael offered him a job and accommodation at The Slade travellers site when he was homeless at 15.

He began working for Christopher Joyce, known as Christy, a couple of years later when they moved to the Redbridge Hollow site, in Old Abingdon Road.

Chief Crown prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service Adrian Foster said the travellers used intimidation, threats and violence to force Mr Iliff to fall to their demands.

He added: “In effect they treated him like a skivvy. It is shocking to hear that offences such as these can occur in modern times, but this case may not in fact be unique.”

All three defendants took the stand during the trial, claiming Mr Iliff was welcomed into their homes with open arms and treated as one of the family.

Pensioner Christopher Joyce blamed police for poisoning Mr Iliff’s mind, telling jurors his victim was “happy” living and working with his family on the site.

Jurors heard Mr Iliff regarded Christopher Joyce and his late wife Winnie as his mum and dad, and considered himself their adopted son.

His “sisters” were also said to be by his side when he was transferred to the Oxford Centre of Enablement after a spell at the John Radcliffe hospital in 2014.

The trio were arrested last March as part of Thames Valley Police’s Operation Stirling investigation into their offending.

Jurors unanimously convicted all three defendants last November of conspiracy to defraud Mr Iliff after opening an account in his name and claiming £139,000 of his benefits over 13 years.

Christopher Joyce, 82, Mary Joyce, 60, and Helen Collins, 46 were released on bail and are due before the same court for sentence for both offences on a date yet to be set.