“Man and Partner Jailed in McDonald’s Modern Slavery Case”

A man and his partner have been sentenced to prison for their involvement in a modern slavery operation that exploited a man at a McDonald’s restaurant in Cambridgeshire. Jan Drevenak, 39, and Monika Olahova, 41, were convicted of arranging transportation for exploitation and enslaving an individual after a trial at Luton Crown Court. This trial marked the conclusion of a series of cases related to a family-run human trafficking network that coerced 12 individuals from Eastern Europe to work in different locations in Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Jan Drevenak initially met the victim, who had lost his job, in the Czech Republic in 2017, offering to assist him in finding employment and housing in the UK. The victim’s wages were deposited into Olahova’s account, with only a minuscule portion being given to him. Drevenak controlled the victim’s identification documents and physically assaulted him multiple times. The victim eventually left Drevenak’s residence and moved in with another relative. The exploitation came to light in October 2019 when authorities were alerted to the man’s situation. In court, Drevenak received an eight-year sentence, while Olahova was sentenced to six years and six months. Both may face deportation after serving part of their terms. Judge Geoffrey Payne emphasized the inhumanity of modern slavery, stating that all individuals have the right to dignity and respect. Detective Sergeant Nick Webber highlighted the necessity of vigilance against modern slavery and commended the cooperation with McDonald’s in addressing the issue. McDonald’s expressed a commitment to safeguarding the welfare of its employees and vowed to collaborate with various stakeholders to combat modern slavery.