Police break up huge 'modern day slavery' ring in United Kingdom

Details about what prosecutors have called one of Britain's largest-ever modern-day slavery rings have emerged with conviction of eight people. Prosecutors say more than 400 victims were forced to work for minuscule ws while ir masters earned some 2 million pounds (USD2.5 million) and lived a luxurious lifestyle. Reporting restrictions were lifted Friday, allowing details to be published.

group preyed on homeless, former convicts and alcoholics in Poland and lured m to Britain with false promises of well-paid work. Some ended up being paid less than 1 USD for a day's work and were held in squalid conditions. Five men and three women originally from Poland have been convicted of modern-day slavery offenses and money laundering. Jurors in two separate trials at Birmingham Crown Court heard testimony from more than 90 victims, with indications that at least ar 350 h been trafficked by criminal gang.

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Victims reported being forced to wash in a canal because y h access to fresh water, having to plug leaky toilets with ir blankets and sheets, and getting food from soup kitchens and food banks because ir ws were t sufficient. group targeted vulnerable people in Poland for recruitment, including newly released convicts, and placed m in England in cramped, rat-infested lodgings. y were put to work on farms, rubbish recycling centers, and poultry factories. victims ranged from teenrs to people over 60.

Judge Mary Stacey said at end of first trial that traffickers' "degration" of fellow human beings h been "totally unacceptable." She imposed prison sentences of up to 11 years.

She said belief that slavery h been ended in Britain was t true: " hard truth is that practice continues, here in U.K., often hiding in plain sight." 

police investigation and research by charity Hope For Justice turned up numerous cases of abuse.

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In one instance, a man who complained about poor pay and living conditions h his arm broken, was given medical care, n ejected from lodgings. Ar was forced to remove his clos and threatened with removal of his kidneys if he did t keep quiet about situation.

In second trial, which ended in June, 52-year-old Ignacy Brzezinski and Wojciech wakowski, 41, were convicted. A third, Jan Sowski, 26, pleed guilty. Convicted at earlier trial, which ended in February, were chief conspirator Marek Chowanic, Marek Brzezinski, Julianna Chodakiewicz, Natalia Zmuda and Justyna Parczewska.