Family are jailed for bringing Polish woman to UK and forcing her to work as a slave in conditions so bad that she was overcome with emotion when rescuing police officers gave her a coffee
- Woman was promised work when she was smuggled to UK from Poland in a bus
- Family put her to work at their home in Enfield but did not offer her any money
- She was forced to live in poor conditions and was stripped of her identification
- The family has been sentenced with parents being jailed for nine years while their adult children were handed suspended prison sentences and unpaid work
A family has been jailed after they tricked a Polish woman into coming to the UK and forced her to work as a slave at their home.
The woman, in her 40s, was made to sleep in the garden shed or under a blanket on the floor and was not allowed to use the phone or contact her family back home.
She did not speak any English and consistently denied anything was wrong while police were investigating until she was offered a cup of coffee when she was overwhelmed by the kind gesture and officers were able to establish what had happened.
The family, who lived in Tottenhall Road, Enfield, were sentenced for modern slavery offences on Friday.
Izabela Dytlow, 47, 63-year-old Andrzej Kasparowicz, Szanel Dytlow, 19, and 22-year-old Kamil Wesolowski were all found guilty of modern slavery offences after a trial at Wood Green Crown Court.
Izabela and Andrzej were both jailed for nine years while Szanel and Kamil were both handed suspended prison sentences and ordered to do unpaid work at Reading Crown Court.
Pictured: Izabela Dytlow, 47, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment after being convicted of one count of trafficking a person into UK for exploitation, three counts of holding a person in servitude and four counts of fraud by false representation
Detective Constable Petra Williams, from Central Specialist Crime, said: ‘The victim comes from a poor background with both parents deceased. She hoped coming into the UK would offer her a better life and one can only imagine the disappointment she must have felt when she was made to face those unacceptable conditions.
‘The family clearly exploited the victim and took advantage of her vulnerable state.
‘They made the victim believe should she go to the police she would never get help and would be in trouble. It was clear that with time the victim lost hope the situation would improve and gave up.
‘It was with great thanks to neighbours who raised their concerns for the victims welfare via The Modern Slavery helpline.’
The court heard how the victim came from a poor family in Poland and found herself working in factories or on the land.
In 2014, she was approached with a promise of work in England and on October 26, 2014, she was brought over by minibus on the understanding she would work as a paid carer for Izabela Dytlow.
The victim worked for the family at addresses on the outskirts of Birmingham and Enfield for more than five years, in conditions which amounted to modern servitude, the Metropolitan Police.
Detectives found she was being made to work for long hours, seven days a week without pay. The promised wages never materialised and she eventually stopped asking for them.
Andrzej Kasparowicz (left) was jailed for nine years after being convicted of multiple modern slavery offences while Szanel Dytlow (right) was handed a suspended prison sentence
The woman was made to sleep in a garden shed, or under a blanket on the floor, sometimes in unsanitary conditions. She was kept isolated and was never allowed to use the phone or contact her family.
Her Polish identification card, the only documentation she had, was kept from her, and her identity was then misused by the family for financial gain.
In September 2019, local officers attended the Tottenhall Road address as a result of concerns for the victim.
Neighbours had raised concerns with police after noticing the conditions the victim was living in and seeing her out on the streets most days cleaning the family cars in all weathers.
The officers identified themselves to the victim and asked her for identification.
Izabela Dytlow was present and informed the officers that the victim, who spoke no English, did not live at the address, claiming she was a visiting ‘Auntie’.
Concerned, and due the language barrier, officers contacted the Met’s Language Line facility to enable conversation with the victim. She denied being forced to work or being held against her will.
Unconvinced by the situation, officers referred the case and detectives from the Met’s Modern Slavery Unit took over the investigation.
Pictured: Kamil Wesolowski, 22, was sentenced to one year in prison suspended for two years and 120 hours unpaid work after being convicted of holding a person in servitude
They attended the address in May 2020 and together with a Polish speaking officer they spoke with the victim.
She initially denied there was anything wrong but after a long exchange she admitted she was not earning any money but claimed she had no need for a wage.
Eventually, officers persuaded the victim to leave the address for a period of reflection.
The Met said that in the police car she told officers ‘it’s like a dream, I cannot believe I am now free’.
Investigators say when the officers brought her a coffee she was visibly overwhelmed as no-one had brought her a coffee before.
It was later established that Izabela took the victim to get a National Insurance number upon arrival to the country.
She had signed documents but had no understanding of what they were. She was told it was for her own well-being.
All four defendants were arrested in May 2020 at the Tottenhall Road address and stood trial at Wood Green Crown Court on in October 2021 for trial.
Patricia Strobino, Senior Crown Prosecutor within the CPS London Complex Casework unit, said: ‘The prosecution case included testimony from many of the neighbours who witnessed the victim being mistreated and raised the alarm, as well as the victim herself who gave a harrowing account of her experiences with the family; of how she had travelled from Poland to the UK in search of a better life only to be trapped into a life of misery.
‘The convictions in this case are a testament to the victim’s courage and those neighbours who did not allow the unacceptable treatment of another go unchecked.
‘This victim now has the opportunity to begin to realise her dreams for a life in the UK.
‘The CPS will always work closely with our law enforcement partners to make sure those who exploit vulnerable victims are taken to court and brought to justice.’
Izabela Dytlow, 47, was jailed for nine years after being convicted of trafficking a person into the UK for exploitation, three counts of holding a person in servitude and four counts of fraud by false representation.
Andrzej Kasparowicz, 63, was jailed for nine years after being convicted of three counts of holding a person in servitude, two counts of fraud by false representation and one count of money laundering.
Szanel Dytlow, 19, was sentenced to 16 months in prison, suspended for two years after being convicted of one count of holding a person in servitude and Kamil Wesolowski, 22, was sentenced to a year in prison, suspended for two years after being convicted of holding a person in servitude.
Detective Constable Petra Williams, from Central Specialist Crime, added: ‘This investigation was assisted by multiple agencies including the Department for Work and Pensions, Enfield Council and Polish authorities.
‘The victim was brave enough to say what happened to her and she was provided with all necessary support by the Salvation Army.
‘I hope that this case will encourage anyone who finds themselves in a similar position, or anyone concerned for someone they know, to come forward and make a report.’
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