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A cruel gang master who forced 'slaves' to live in squalid conditions and work 12 hour shifts for just £2 an hour before pocketing their wages has been jailed.

Mihai Varga, 39, brought the five Romanian men over to the UK but paid them just £20 for a day's hard labour at a food processing factory.

The men - aged between 26 and 50 - were also kept in Varga's cramped home in Handsworth, West Midlands, and driven to the factory in Staffordshire by him every day.

They were unaware that they should have been paid the minimum wage of £7 an hour and were forced to share mattresses laid out on the floor.

(Image: SWNS.com)

A warrant was executed at the home and Varga was arrested in September last year following a joint investigation between West Midlands Police, the National Crime Agency (NCA), and the Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).

Varga originally denied exploiting the Eastern Europeans, but changed his plea midway through a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

He was jailed for five years after admitting human trafficking and fraud offences.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Constable Nick McCullogh, of West Midlands Police, said: "Varga cruelly made money from these victims while forcing them to work long hours and live in squalid conditions.

"We found they were staying in a small room and often having to share mattresses on the floor to sleep on.

"The victims were receiving around just £2 an hour and unaware they were being paid the minimum wage of £7 an hour.

"We believe Varga had been exploiting workers from Eastern Europe over several years and investigations to identify other victims is on-going.

"This is the 21st century and we are committed to tackling people trafficking and modern slavery.

(Image: Birmingham Post and Mail)

"We are continually looking to raise awareness of what is still a hidden crime and need the help of the public if they suspect someone of being an unlicensed gangmaster."

Michael Heyes, the GLAA Investigating Officer, said: "Several of our specially-trained officers provided ongoing support before, during and after this large-scale and complex investigation and worked well in partnership with West Midlands Police to ensure justice was done for the victims.

"There are manipulative, devious and cruel men and women in every corner of the country right now exploiting workers for a handsome profit.

"Many victims aren't aware that the majority of the wage they're earning is going to their exploiter, or that they are entitled to holiday pay, sick pay or days off to rest.

"The basic rights you and I enjoy in our jobs are withheld from hard-working people who deserve better.

"People like Varga exploit those under their control mercilessly - the GLAA will continue to work closely with partners to ensure these people don't go unpunished and that workers get what they're entitled to."