Aiding and abetting illegal gangmaster lands two in court

Two men have admitted helping an illegal gangmaster following investigations by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).

In a GLAA statement released this morning, the men – Josh Beesley and Christopher Beech – both pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting an unlicensed gangmaster when they appeared at Liverpool Crown Court (pictured) yesterday morning (11 June).

Beesley also admitted conspiring to commit fraud by abuse of position.

The men were charged last month with the offences in connection with a multi-agency operation carried out in Liverpool. Forty-one Romanian workers were found by the GLAA during the operation in March 2018, which was organised to tackle suspected labour exploitation.

Beesley of Wigan and Beech of Congleton have both been bailed to appear before Liverpool Crown Court on Monday 22 July for sentencing.

As investigations are currently ongoing, the GLAA told Recruiter it is unable to name the illegal gangmaster in the case at this stage.

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