A RUTHLESS criminal gang trafficked people to Bradford and forced them into slavery, a jury has been told.

Bradford Crown Court heard that 24-year-old David Zielinski, formerly of Bradford, was alleged to be a key figure in a plot to exploit the poor and vulnerable in his native Poland by selling them the dream of a better life and forcing them to work in poor conditions while siphoning off their earnings.

Zielinski, now living in Enfield, London, denies four offences under the Modern Slavery Act, involving the arrangement or facilitation of people to the UK to exploit them.

Prosecutor Chris Smith told the court: “This is a case about a group of criminals exploiting deep-seated human needs – the needs other people harboured to travel to and work in this country.

“Vulnerable people who were sold a dream but who found themselves living in a nightmare; trafficked into this country and forced to live and work in very poor conditions whilst the money they earned was siphoned off by a greedy and ruthless gang.”

Mr Smith said the trafficking was a family business – “Zielinski and sons”.

A police interview with one of the alleged victims, Michel Jakub, was played in court yesterday.

Mr Jakub, 40, and his partner Izabella Oginska were brought to Thornbury, Bradford, from Poland after being promised a better life, the court heard.

Speaking via an interpreter, Mr Jakub told officers that he and his partner were taken to a house near a petrol station and a Lidl in the “Leeds Road area” of Bradford.

The court heard that five Polish men lived in the three-bedroom house. He said: “We knew it was not superb conditions, with not much money. But we had to bite our tongues and work hard and get on with it.”

Police asked Mr Jakub how things were on their first day at the house. He said: “When we woke up, everything looked very nice. They asked us if we were hungry or if we wanted a drink. We did not suspect what we had got into. On the first morning we were full of optimism.”

Mr Jakub told how later they had poor quality or no food, but that they were scared to say anything: “We did not know if we asked them for better food or more food what would happen and what would be the consequences.”

Mr Jakub worked at a recycling plant in Canal Road, Bradford, but said most of his wages were taken from him on payday by those controlling him.

Mr Jakub said he and Izabella sought help from Hope for Justice, a charity that helps people who have been trafficked.

The trial continues.

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