A couple who forced a man to work at a McDonald’s restaurant in Cambridgeshire while stealing his wages have been jailed for their roles in a modern slavery operation.
Jan Drevenak, 39, and his partner Monika Olahova, 41, were found guilty of arranging transport for exploitation and holding a person in slavery following a trial at Luton Crown Court. Their trial was the last of three linked to the family-run modern slavery operation that has already seen Drevenak’s brother Ernest and Ernest’s partner Veronika Bubencikova, imprisoned.
Drevenak befriended the man, who had been made redundant, in the Czech Republic in 2017 and promised to help him find work and accommodation in the UK. He arranged the man’s travel on the understanding that the victim would repay the cost from his wages.
After arriving in the UK in early 2018, the man was taken to Derby before moving to Bedford, where he lived with Drevenak. Meanwhile, Ernest Drevenak and his partner Bubencikova lived in the Cambourne area of Cambridgeshire.
View 2 ImagesCambridgeshire Police worked closely with McDonald’s during the investigation(Image: PA)
The victim was employed at a McDonald’s branch at Caxton Gibbet, where he worked gruelling 12-hour shifts, six days a week. The court heard Drevenak drove the victim to and from the restaurant, but was unreliable and, on occasion, left him there overnight.
The man’s wages were paid into a bank account controlled by Olahova. Between March and October 2018, he earned more than £12,000 but received just £90. When he asked for more money, he was told his wages were being used to repay travel costs and cover food and accommodation.
Drevenak also controlled the victim’s passport and ID, and the man reported being assaulted by him on more than one occasion. In October 2018, he left the property and moved in with Drevenak’s brother, who lived closer to his workplace.
The court heard Drevenak received £1,000 from his brother as a result of the change in circumstances and that the victim’s wages stopped being diverted into Olahova’s account.
Police were alerted in October 2019 to the case and specialist officers spoke to the victim.
At Luton Crown Court on Thursday (June 4), Drevenak, of Crown Gardens, Alconbury, was jailed for eight years, while Olahova, of Stone Hill, St Neots, was jailed for six years and six months. Both face deportation after serving part of their prison terms – Drevenak after two-thirds of his sentence and Olahova after half of hers.
Sentencing the pair, His Honour Judge Geoffrey Payne said: “Slavery is a modern-day evil. All humans have the right to dignity and worth. The victim in this case was robbed of those. He was kept in disdainful conditions and treated as property.”
Detective Sergeant Nick Webber said: “This case once again emphasises that sadly modern slavery can happen anywhere. Drevenak befriended a man who had fallen on hard times and despicably decided to exploit him.
“The victim was sold a dream of a fresh start in the UK, but it turned into a nightmare as he was forced to work long shifts for virtually no pay.
“We have worked closely with McDonalds during this investigation. When they recognised the loophole that allowed these offences to take place, they put measures in place to prevent it happening again and have provided significant support in relocating the victim.
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“I’d urge everyone to be aware of the signs of modern slavery and report any concerns to us. Doing so could help someone in a desperate situation.”
A McDonald’s spokesperson said: “When the case came to light, together with our franchisees, we strengthened the ability of our people and systems to detect and deter potential risks, such as shared bank accounts, excessive working hours, and reviewing the use of interpreters in interviews.
“We care deeply about the welfare of every single one of the 159,000 people working at McDonald’s and franchisee owned restaurants across the UK and Ireland. With our franchisees, we will continue to play our part alongside government, NGOs and wider society to help combat the evils of modern slavery.”