Newington Green man who kept Polish people as slaves is jailed

A man who trafficked four people from Poland and made them work six days a week while living on rations has been jailed for 18 months.

Jonatan Majewski, 26, pleaded guilty to one count of human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation at Wood Green Crown Court on Tuesday.

Majewski, of Woodville Road, Newington Green, brought the vulnerable group over early last year with the promise of good jobs and excellent wages.

But the three men and a woman were instead made to sleep on the floor in one bedroom, given rations of bread and soup and sent to work at a commercial laundry in Essex for 12 hours a day, six days a week.

He then demanded their wages at the end of each week, claiming it was for travel and accommodation expenses – and left them with a few pounds each.

After enduring it for three weeks, the victims then told colleagues about it and police were called.

Officers from the Met’s modern slavery and kidnap raided the property in Woodville Road in January last year and Majewski was charged.

He has also been given a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order to prevent him from committing more offences.

Det Con James Greenaway of the trafficking unit, said: “Majewski cynically exploited his victims for financial gain. He deceived them with the promise of a better life, offering a job with a regular wage, which was higher than they could earn in Poland.

“In reality they were made to work very long hours and had the majority of their wages withheld.”

His father, Marek Majewski, 56, also of Woodville Road, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and was jailed for a year.

Anyone who is a victim, or suspects somebody may be a victim of modern slavery can call police on 101 in a non-emergency, or 999 in an emergency.

Alternatively, contact the Modern Slavery Helpline 0800 0121 700 or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.