Ice cream vendor kept ‘slave’ in garage for 6 years

An ice cream business owner who kept a vulnerable man like a “slave” has been jailed for six-and-a-half years by a judge who said it was “staggering” this could happen in modern society.

David Rooke forced Craig Kinsella, 34, to live in a garage where he suffered regular beatings and ended up scavenging for food in bins, Sheffield Crown Court heard.

Rooke, 44, admitted falsely imprisoning and attacking Mr Kinsella and was jailed along with his wife Donna, 40, and son Jamie, 19.

CCTV footage of various members of the Rooke family assaulting Mr Kinsella was shown to Judge Peter Kelson QC who said it was impossible to watch without wincing. The judge said the family used Kinsella like a “punchbag” and treated him “like a dog”.

Judge Kelson told the Rookes: “His will had been completely broken by the way you treated him. You treated him like a dog.”

He added: “Man’s inhumanity to man never ceases to shock.”

“He was just your punchbag, all three of you. If you were in a bad mood you would just go and kick and punch Craig Kinsella.

“It is staggering that this is happening in our society, absolutely staggering. It is almost unbelievable.”

David Rooke admitted false imprisonment and a number of counts of causing actual bodily harm. Jamie Rooke admitted affray and a number of counts of causing actual bodily harm. He was jailed for four years. Donna Rooke admitted a specimen count of battery. She was jailed for four months.

All three live on Halifax Road, Grenoside, Sheffield, where Mr Kinsella was living in the garage at the side of the family home for about two months before police intervened in July last year. He was not allowed into the house.

Prosecutor David Brooke said the victim’s life was completely controlled by the Rookes using casual violence and intimidation.

Mr Brooke said the family used “unpleasant and casual” violence to leave Mr Kinsella so terrified he would work from 7.30am to midnight for no money cleaning their garden and vans. He ended up living in their garage, eating occasional cold meals left out for him and using a bucket for a toilet.