Man jailed after forcing men to work at Derbyshire factory
Workers were forced to work with no, or very little pay and live in squalid conditions
Last updated 13th Aug 2021
A man has been jailed for six years after forcing workers at a factory in Derbyshire to work without adequate pay and arranging for them to live in squalid conditions.
33 year old Janos Sztojka, formerly of Leicester, pleaded guilty to a range of modern slavery, fraud and money laundering offences after police identified a total of five victims.
Concerns had originally been raised by an employment agency and the factory company itself.
Sztojka was arrested along with several other people following police raids. It was found that he'd arranged for the men to come to the UK from Hungary with the promise of good jobs.
When they arrived they received none or just a fraction of the promised money.
It was found Sztojka had set up bank accounts for the men which he then used to fund his own lifestyle.
Each of the victims was placed into accommodation in Leicestershire.
One of the victims revealed he wasn't allowed to use a shower or toilet at his accommodation and was forced to sleep without a bed.
A stun gun was also found at Sztojka’s home which had been used against the victim.
Sztojka was charged and admitted to the following offences at Leicester Crown Court
- Conspiring to require another person to perform forced/compulsory labour between 1 October 2018 and 22 December 2020
- One count of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation between 1 October 2018 and 22 December 2020
- Four counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view to exploitation between 1 August 2018 and 22 December 2020
- Making or supplying articles for use in fraud between 1 October 2018 and 22 December 2020 – namely utility bills containing false details, intending them to be used to commit, or assist in the commission of, fraud.
- Entering into or becoming concerned in a money laundering agreement between 1 October 2018 and 22 December 2020 – namely supplying fraudulently obtained bank accounts knowing or suspecting that the arrangement would facilitate the acquisition, retention, use or control of criminal property by persons unknown.
- Possession of a prohibited weapon – namely a stun gun
As well as a six year prison sentence, Sztojka was served with a 10 year slavery and trafficking prevention order.
Another person was deported by the Home Office in the same case, while a third person was cautioned for fraud offences.
Detective Constable Daljinder Gill, of Leicestershire Police said:
“This was a full team investigation involving a number of partner agencies working together following an allegation which had been made.
“The investigation had to be handled carefully and sensitively in order to ensure the victims of this offence were safeguarded and that the full scale of the crime which the defendant had committed could be proved.
“Thanks to the dedicated work of all of the team involved, Sztojka has had to admit his actions in court and his exploitation of vulnerable victims.