Trafficking gang of four with recycling links are jailed

The Crown Prosecution Service noted that that the “appalling” ring had “abused and exploited Polish workers as modern slaves”.

The CPS explained that Sabastian Mandzik, 40, Robert Majewski, 45, Pawel Majewski, 27, and Seweryn Szymt. 20, were involved in a large scale operation, which transported vulnerable people to the north east of England on the promise of well-paid work.

Companies and premises where the men worked have not been identified by the CPS at this stage.

Earlier this month, Newcastle Crown Court heard that the victims were housed in cramped conditions and forced into minimum wage jobs, with their salaries paid into bank accounts controlled by the criminal gang. Any resistance was met with violence and intimidation.

The men were found guilty on May 26 at Newcastle Crown Court of offences including conspiring to transport people for exploitation, conspiring to force people into labour and conspiring to conceal criminal property.

Appalling

Jim Hope, Senior Crown Prosecutor, said: “The treatment of the victims and the conditions in which they were made to live were truly appalling.

“Once this group became aware of the police investigation, they made a calculated effort to remove or destroy any evidence linking them to this case.  Despite their attempts, the CPS worked closely with detectives to build a complete picture of the scale and scope of their criminal operations.”

And, Mr Hope pledged that “the CPS will continue to work alongside its criminal justice partners to tackle cases of modern slavery.”

All four men were found guilty of two counts of conspiring to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour and one count of conspiring to conceal, disguise, convert, transfer and remove criminal property.

Sebastian Mandzik was convicted of one additional charge of conspiring to arrange or facilitate the travel of another person with a view to that person being exploited.