YOU BELONG TO US Terror of a man trapped by ‘mafia’
Victim forced to work for no pay and told he’d be killed if he refused
A MAN tricked into modern slavery by the ‘Slovakian Mafia’ has spoken of his ordeal at the hands of the kickboxing gangsters who controlled him.
Nick* says he was threatened with murder by people he trusted during his time working at a car wash in Greater Manchester.
After arriving in Scotland from Slovakia in 2014, Nick initially found work at an Indian restaurant.
But he was persuaded to move to the region by a fellow countryman who told him he could earn more money washing cars.
In reality, Nick had been tricked into modern slavery and would see none of the money he was promised.
The work in the car wash was long and hard, and without proper protective clothing, Nick spent most of his days cold, wet and tired.
When he demanded his wages, he was initially brushed off, and told they were coming – But he soon realised he was not going to be paid.
“I had been expecting a fair wage and a place to live, and I had been told the hours were reasonable,” he says.
“Week after week, there was no money for me.
“It became clear that I would not be paid for the work, and I felt angry and helpless.”
The more he demanded fair treatment and his wages, the worse his situation became.
The Slovakians Nick was working and living with were trained kickboxers – and threatened to kill him if he didn’t do as they said.
“They told me ‘you work for us now – you belong to us,’” said Nick.
As well as forcing him to work for free, they also told him to open fake
It became clear I was not going to be paid for the work. I felt angry and helpless
‘Nick’
bank accounts in his name to be used for money laundering.
“Every night they were screaming at me to do as they said,” says Nick.
“I think they were from the mafia in my country. I was very afraid.
“I didn’t want anything to do with what they were doing.
“All I had wanted was a nice, quiet life with a job, so I could help my mum back in Slovakia, but I had ended up in a terrible situation.”
Desperate, frightened and alone, Nick knew he had to plan his escape.
“I stalled for time, telling them I was waiting for an appointment at the bank,” he says.
“One night when they were drinking and taking drugs, I decided it was my chance to get away.
“I grabbed some of the fake IDs in the house and ran to the nearest police station.
“I was really scared they would come after me. When I got to the police station, it was closed, so I ran to another station as fast as I could.”
The police believed his story and referred him to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) – a framework for identifying victims of human trafficking and ensuring they receive the appropriate protection and support.
Nick was terrified the gang would track him down.
But he was supported by the national anti-trafficking charity City Hearts, given a place at a safe house, as well as legitimate ID and access to medical and counselling services.
Through the charity’s Bright Future employment programme – developed with the Co-op Group for survivors of modern slavery – Nick also began a placement at a Co-op distribution warehouse near the city.
“City Hearts are good people who helped me a lot,” he says.
“Just having a safe place to live and people to talk to made a big difference.
“I loved working at the Co-op, the people there are seriously nice, and now I have a future with my girlfriend.
“I never told my mother what happened to me because I knew how upset she would be.
“I still feel scared the gang might find me.
“But now I have people on my side who help me stay safe.”
City Hearts looks after survivors of trafficking and modern slavery across Greater Manchester and the north west.
● *The survivor’s name has been changed to protect his identity.