A man and his partner have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a modern slavery ring that exploited individuals by making them work at a McDonald’s in Cambridgeshire while withholding their wages.
Jan Drevenak, aged 39, and Monika Olahova, aged 41, were convicted of facilitating exploitation and enslavement after a trial at Luton Crown Court. This trial marked the conclusion of a series of cases related to a trafficking network that coerced 12 people from Eastern Europe into labor across Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Drevenak’s brothers, Zdenek, Ernest, and Ernest’s partner Veronika Bubencikova, were also imprisoned in previous years for their roles in the operation.
The victim, who had lost his job in the Czech Republic, was befriended by Jan Drevenak in 2017. Drevenak promised to assist him in finding employment and housing in the UK, arranging his travel with the understanding that the costs would be repaid from his earnings.
Upon arriving in the UK in early 2018, the man was taken to Derby before relocating to Bedford, where he resided with Drevenak. Meanwhile, Ernest Drevenak and Bubencikova lived in Cambridgeshire.
The victim was forced to work long shifts at a McDonald’s in Caxton Gibbet, enduring grueling 12-hour days, six times a week. Jan Drevenak transported him to and from the restaurant but was unreliable, occasionally abandoning him overnight.
Earnings were deposited into an account controlled by Olahova, with the victim receiving only £90 out of the £12,000 he earned between March and October 2018. When he requested more money, he was informed that his wages were utilized to cover travel expenses, food, and lodging.
Drevenak retained the victim’s identification documents and passport, and the victim reported being physically assaulted on multiple occasions. In October 2018, he left Drevenak’s residence and moved in with Ernest Drevenak, who resided closer to his workplace.
Following these changes, Jan Drevenak received £1,000 from his brother, leading to the halt of diverting the victim’s wages to Olahova’s account. The authorities were alerted in October 2019 about the exploitation case at the McDonald’s, prompting police involvement and subsequent interviews with the victim.
During the sentencing at Luton Crown Court on June 4, Drevenak, residing in Alconbury, was sentenced to eight years in prison, while Olahova, from St Neots, received a six-year and six-month sentence. Both face potential deportation after serving a portion of their terms – Drevenak after two-thirds and Olahova after half.
Judge Geoffrey Payne stressed the seriousness of modern-day slavery, emphasizing the fundamental rights of dignity and respect for all individuals, rights that were violated in this case.
Detective Sergeant Nick Webber highlighted the prevalence of modern slavery and urged the public to report any suspicions, as early intervention could assist individuals in dire circumstances. McDonald’s also cooperated with the investigation, enhancing their protocols to prevent similar occurrences and supporting the victim’s relocation.
McDonald’s expressed their commitment to the well-being of their employees and franchisees, pledging to collaborate with various entities to combat modern slavery effectively.