A pair has been found guilty of keeping a Romanian man as a slave and forcing him to live in a cupboard under the stairs “like Harry Potter”.
Watch the story of the man who was kept as a slave by a pair
[rumble video_id=v4hl3x domain_id=u7nb2]
26-year-old Ion Boboc and 24-year-old Christiana Tudor-Dobre, from Evans Close, Bristol, forced Gabriel Nicolae to live in a cupboard under the stairs, gave him just £1 a day to buy biscuits, forced him to eat “highly spiced food”, and banned him from using the bathroom.
The pair, who was keeping the man as a slave, has been convicted under the Modern Slavery Act following a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
They also forced him to dance and perform other physical challenges.
The 31-year-old man was also forced to drink out of an outdoor hosepipe and use woodland when he needed the toilet.
The pair would also throw eggs and flour on him.
Nicolae, who was described as vulnerable, was earning between £300 and £350 a week as he was working at an abattoir.
But, the pair would control his income and give him £1 a day to buy biscuits.
After neighbours alerted police through a modern slavery helpline, the pair was arrested and will be sentenced on 19 March.
Boboc is jailed for four years, two months and Tudor-Dobre is jailed for three years and seven months.
PC Roger Ibrahim, who led the case, praised the neighbours for informing the police about slavery.
He said in a statement: “Without the information through the modern slavery hotline this abuse would still be happening.”
“When we found this man he appeared underfed and was suffering from sores on his feet. No one should be treated in this way.”
Ben Samples of the CPS praised the victim for his bravery and said: “I would like to commend the victim for the incredible strength and bravery he showed in giving evidence and supporting the prosecution, despite the degrading treatment he suffered at the hands of the defendants.”
[rumble video_id=v58l2f domain_id=u7nb2]