A man who trafficked four vulnerable Polish nationals into the UK and forced to work 12 hours a day in a Chelmsford laundry has been given jailed for 18 months.

Jonatan Majewski, 26, of Woodville Road in Hackney, pleaded guilty to one count of human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation.

The four victims - three men and woman - were given food rations of bread and soup and sent out to work at a commercial laundry in Chelmsford, where they were forced to work over 12 hours a day, six days a week.

At the end of each week, Jonatan Majewski demanded that the victims hand over their wages to him – claiming this was for travel and accommodation expenses – leaving the victims with just a few pounds each.

Jonatan Majewski recruited the victims, all aged in their twenties and from Poznan in western Poland, at the beginning of last year.

He then transported them to the UK, deceiving them with the promise of good jobs and excellent wages.

They arrived in the UK on 8 January 2016 and were housed at an address in Woodville Road, N16 with all four sleeping on the floor in one small bedroom.

After three weeks, the victims desperately sought help from colleagues at the laundry and from police.

Officers from the Met’s Modern Slavery and Kidnap Unit executed a search warrant at the property in Woodville Road, Hackney on 31 January 2016 and Jonatan Majewski was subsequently arrested and charged with one offence under Section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

On 26 September 2017 he was given an 18 month custodial sentence at Wood Green Crown Court and issued with a Slavery and Trafficking Prevention Order (STPO) to prevent him from committing similar offences in the future.

DC James Greenaway of the Trafficking and Kidnap Unit, said: “Jonatan 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.”

He was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment on Tuesday, 26 September at Wood Green Crown Court.

His father, Marek Majewski, 56, also of Woodville Road in Hackney pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and was given a 12 month custodial sentence.

Anyone who is a victim, or suspects somebody may be a victim of modern slavery should contact 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.