A "VULNERABLE" man said he felt "devastated" that he was not paid for 13 years for the work he was doing at a farm near Newport, a court heard.

Father and son Daniel Doran, 67, and David Doran, 42, are accused of forcing Darrell Simester to look after their horses at the Cariad Farm in Peterstone.

Mr Simester, now 44, and originally from Kidderminster, told Cardiff Crown Court that he spent 13 years at the farm and in that time he only had two days off, once to visit a fairground in Brecon and another for a New Years' Eve night out.

Giving evidence, Mr Simester said he worked from 7am to 10pm each day mucking out stables, riding horses and cleaning and washing the horses with no pay.

When he was found in February 2013 by his brother, Mr Simester was suffering from a number of health issues including a tennis ball sized hernia in his groin, a lump on his back and dental problems.

John Hipkin, prosecuting, asked Mr Simester if had a toothbrush during his time at Cariad Farm which he replied no.

Mr Simester said he once told Doran Jr that he had toothache and was told to "go get some whiskey for it" which he was disgusted by.

Mr Hipkin asked if Mr Simester had told the Dorans about the hernia and he said he did tell Doran Jr but received no treatment.

He told the court that he also had problems with his feet as he only had wet socks and trainers to work in.

The court heard about Mr Simester's accommodation when he first arrived at the farm which he says was a rat-infested shed.

Mr Simester told the jury he would sleep on a settee under a jacket that he had been wearing at work all day.

He did not have a fridge so kept milk in a bucket of water and only had the clothes he arrived in.

He told the court he would use washing up liquid to wash himself in an animal trough as he was not given soap.

When asked how he felt about not being paid for his work, Mr Simester replied "devastated".

Mr Simester said he he first came to be at the farm as he had been on holiday in Porthcawl with the Loveridges, a family he was staying with in Kidderminster, when he decided to leave them.

He said: "I left them. I just walked."

When asked where he was going, Mr Simester said "away" and that he slept in a car park in Newport city centre for a few nights.

When he was walking away from Newport he met Tom Doran, another son of Daniel Doran, who picked him up on a dual carriageway near Taffs Well asking if he would like to work.

He said he was later taken to Cariad Farm.

Both defendants deny a single charge of requiring another to perform forced or compulsory labour between April 6 2010 and March 1 2013.

Mr Hipkin previously said the jury would have to decide whether Mr Simester could have been a volunteer at the farm “because he preferred it in some way as a way of life” or whether he was coerced to remain there under some form of menace or threat.

Proceeding.