‘Unscrupulous’ takeaway boss faces jail for slavery
MEN WERE THREATENED OR BEATEN IF THEY DID NOT WORK FOR FREE
A “unscrupulous” Sunderland takeaway boss who kept vulnerable men as slaves and gave them leftover food in return for hard work is facing jail.
Harjit Bariana’s tenants at a multi-occupancy maisonette in Blyth, Northumberland, paid their rent through housing benefit but were also expected to work for him for free.
Newcastle Crown Court heard some of the men, who were mostly drink or alcohol dependent, would be threatened or beaten if they did not comply.
Bariana, who was known as Harry, was owner of Antonio’s chip shop in Blyth and Valentinos takeaway in Sunderland.
The 46-year-old would expect his tenants to prepare food andhand out leaflets for the food outlets but they were also forced into more heavy work such as clearing drains, jurors heard.
One man was made to walk a mile barefoot.
A victim, who cannot be named, told jurors: “One man got hoyed in the bath. His shoes got taken off him, his belt got taken off him
“He was made to walk a mile to Antonio’s to get his shoes, in bare feet.”
The man told the court he himself was given “basically leftovers” after long and hard days at work.
Bariana, of Netherton, Northumberland, was convicted of six offences of requiring another person to perform forced or compulsory labour, in relation to four men, and one of being concerned in the supply of diazepam .
He was cleared of two of the slavery charges.
Bariana was also found not guilty of one count of robbery of one of his victims’ cash and phone.
Judge Sarah Mallett warned him there was “no alternative to an immediate custodial sentence”.
The judge remanded Bariana in custody until he is sentenced, which will be next month, and refused his lawyers’ application for him to be allowed bail in the meantime.
Bariana’s co-accused Denise Lillico, 51, of Byker, Newcastle, was cleared of being concerned in the supply of the Class C drug.
Bariana claimed all allegations against him are “untrue”.
Prosecutors will now pursue Bariana under the Proceeds of Crime Act to seize any assets he may have.
After the hearing, Chief Inspector Helena Barron said: “Harjit Bariana preyed on vulnerable victims for his own gain.
“He relied on the fact that they were homeless with addictions to keep them under his control.
“If they did not work then they feared they would lose their home and be unable to feed their addictions.
“It is a lesson for everyone that a victim of modern day slavery can come from any walk of life and any background.”