Audio from interview with victim of forced labour

Paul Joyce, aged 33 (pictured), of Red Bridge Hollow in Old Abingdon Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud, one count of common assault and two counts of substantive forced labour on 24 April at the same court. Paul JoyceHe was today sentenced to 34 months’ imprisonment.

Helen Cash, aged 31, of Red Bridge Hollow, Old Abingdon Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud and two counts of substantive labour on 24 April at the same court.

She was today given a two-year suspended sentence, and a 18 month supervision order.

Michael Joyce, aged 25, of Red Bridge Hollow in Old Abingdon Road, Oxford, pleaded guilty to one count of substantive forced labour on 24 April at the same court.

He was today given a two year suspended sentence and ordered to undertake 150 hours of unpaid work, to be completed in one year. Ifran Iqbal, aged 29, of Millfield Walk, Hemel Hempstead, pleaded guilty to one count of fraud and one count of substantive labour on 24 April at the same court.

He was today given a one year community service order, ordered to undertake 12 months of unpaid work and given a nine month supervision order.

The charges relate to one victim, a 27-year-old man, and the offences took place in Oxford and Hemel Hempstead between January 2012 and November 2013.

The victim was controlled and forced to work without receiving pay for approximately two years and forced to commit crime through being threatened and intimidated.

During this time, Paul Joyce and Helen Cash falsely used the victim’s bank account details and bank cards, and Paul Joyce, Cash and Iqbal dishonestly made false representations that the victim was entitled to claim housing benefit in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. Paul Joyce and Cash also falsely claimed the victim’s Employment Support Allowance.

Between the same dates, Joyce, Joyce, Iqbal and Cash required the victim to perform forced or compulsory labour.

When the victim attempted to leave in November 2012, he was assaulted by Paul Joyce, causing bruising to his head and body.

The victim was reported missing in November 2013 and was located in Redbourn, Hertfordshire.

The four defendants were arrested in March last year and were charged in December 2014.

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