Former Schoolteacher Gets Five Years For Sexually Abusing Young Boys During Sleepovers

A pedophile ex-schoolteacher, who slashed his wrists hours before he was due to be sentenced for the abuse of two young boys, received five years imprisonment today.

Martin Smith, 64, of Llandybie Road, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, who transfixed the impressionable youngsters with elaborate ghost tales, had been rushed to hospital forty-eight hours earlier to be treated for the self-inflicted wounds.

Woolwich Crown Court listed the case for an update and to potentially adjourn for medical and psychiatric reports, but in a surprising move Judge David Tomlinson proceeded to sentencing.

The judge also made a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, which imposes restrictions on Smith when he is released and he must also sign the sex-offenders register for an indefinite period.

Two days earlier Smith was taken from his hotel in Horsham, West Sussex to a local accident and emergency department hours before he was due to be sentenced for one count of indecent assault in relation to each boy, plus two counts of repeated indecency with each child on multiple occasions between 1979 and 1982.

One count of indecency with a third boy was allowed to lie on the file.

He was convicted by a jury who heard the former Camberwell primary school teacher abused the young boys, aged between eight and ten, during sleepovers at his former home in St. Julian's Farm Road, West Norwood on the eve of organised trips.

He was arrested and charged after internet communication between the complainants on Facebook and Friends Reunited.

Smith employed the ghost stories to instigate some of the abuse, urging one of the youngsters to "punish the ghost" by touching him intimately.

The boys were "absorbed" by his imaginative ghost tales, which usually involved World War One soldiers.

They stayed at Smith's two-bedroom flat to get an early start on various school trips and one of the victim's thought he felt the presence of a ghost during a visit to an old music hall, such was the influence of the defendant's stories.

The same victim told police he was also caned and spanked by Smith and one one occasion confirmed bachelor Smith put him in a nappy.

The truth only started coming out when the victim confided in his wife that a schoolteacher had abused him.

He approached police with his complaint in November 2011 and officers contacted the second victim, who confirmed similar abuse occurred when he stayed at Smith's flat.

Confirmed bachelor Smith insisted throughout the trial that he never touched the boys and claimed to recall one of the victim's warning: "I'll get you for that," after a caning.

He also said he overheard the same boy making plans to get money as a result of sexual activity.

St. Valentine's Day Girlfriend Beater Given New Sentencing Date

A St. Valentine's Day thug, who attacked his girlfriend during a romantic weekend at a top London hotel, heard today he could still end up behind bars despite magistrates telling him: “We are going to give you another chance.”

Robert Hugh Rough, 30, of Crowhurst, Peterborough pleaded guilty to assaulting Rebecca Slater, by beating, at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel, Bayswater Road, Hyde Park in the early hours of February 15.

He was due to be sentenced at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, but had failed to see the probation service to compile a pre-sentence report and was bailed to return on June 4.

Prosecutor Mr. Christian Wheeliker told the court: “Police were called to the venue after staff received complaints from other guests about noise coming from the couple's room.

“Miss Slater says that after they went out for dinner and returned to the hotel Mr. Rough got angry about who she had been with at her firm's Christmas party and she told him nothing had happened.

“This was in the foyer and Mr. Rough followed her up to their room and once inside she says: 'Rob threw all the roses I had been given across the room and was insulting me, trying to make me cry.

'The manager came to the door and asked what was going on and I said everything was okay.

'We went out for a cigarette, but when we returned he forced me to the floor, kneed me twice in the face, and spat in my face'.”

Despite pleading guilty to assault Rough claimed Miss Slater's account was exaggerated and the court held a Newton Hearing to determine the facts.

“It was found her version of the events were the correct version,” added Mr. Wheeliker, who applied for £775 costs, compensation for Miss Slater and a restraining order to prevent the defendant contacting her.

Rough told the court he had done everything he could to co-operate, but had not received a letter sent by the probation service. “I've been worried about probation. I want to get this sorted,” he said.

Bench Chairwoman Jessica Baldwin told him: “We are going to give you another chance. We are leaving all options open, including custody.”

Paedo Ex-Teacher Slashes Wrists Hours Before Court Sentencing

A pedophile ex-schoolteacher, convicted of abusing two boy pupils he transfixed with elaborate ghost stories, slashed his wrists hours before he was due to be sentenced for the decades-old offences.

Martin Smith, 64, of Llandybie Road, Ammanford, Carmarthenshire was rushed from a hotel in Horsham, West Sussex, to an unnamed local hospital yesterday with self-inflicted injuries.

He was due to be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court for one count of indecent assault in relation to each boy, plus two counts of repeated indecency with each child on multiple occasions between 1979 and 1982.

He was convicted by a jury who heard the former Camberwell primary school teacher abused the young boys, aged between eight and ten, during sleepovers at his former home in St. Julian's Farm Road, West Norwood on the eve of organised trips.

He was arrested and charged after internet communication between the complainants on Facebook and Friends Reunited.

Smith employed the ghost stories to instigate some of the abuse, urging one of the youngsters to "punish the ghost" by touching him intimately.

The boys were "absorbed" by his imaginative ghost tales, which usually involved World War One soldiers.

They stayed at Smith's two-bedroom flat to get an early start on various school trips and one of the victim's thought he felt the presence of a ghost during a visit to an old music hall, such was the influence of the defendant's stories.

The same victim told police he was also caned and spanked by Smith and one one occasion confirmed bachelor Smith put him in a nappy.

The truth only started coming out when the victim confided in his wife that a schoolteacher had abused him.

Judge David Tomlinson issued a warrant for Smith's arrest, announcing: "He was supposed to surrender today for sentencing and he's not here.

"He lives in Wales and to be nearer the court he went to a hotel in Horsham and was taken to hospital earlier today and his condition is not life-threatening, but there is an element of self-harm.

"A police officer has arrested him for failing to attend today and I am told that he has been assessed by the accident and emergency department."

Prosecutor Mr. Tom Nicholson applied for the warrant, saying: "There's concern for his own safety. He cannot be expected to return to Wales under his own steam and then return to court."

Woman Motorist Banned For Second Drink-Drive Offence

A two-time drink-driver, who was reported to the police for after bumping her car into another vehicle, has been fined and banned from the roads for being over double the limit.

Lisa Wilkinson, 45, of Kempsford Gardens, Chelsea pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court (pictured) to driving her Honda Civic with excess alcohol in her breath in Notting Hill Gate on April 20.

The court heard it was 7.30pm when police were told by the other driver he suspected Wilkinson was under the influence of alcohol and she was pulled over outside Marks & Spencer's.

She failed a roadside breath-test and later gave a breath reading of 89 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath – the legal limit is 35.

Wilkinson was banned for drink driving in 2002 and has lost her job as a sales negotiator as a result of her latest conviction.

She was fined £250, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £25 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for twenty months.

Thief Flees Courthouse While Being Sentenced To Imprisonment

Escape: Hammersmith Magistrates Court

A thief, who was told he would be going to prison for smashing his way into a parked car and snatching a laptop and iPad, calmly walked out of the dock and escaped from the court building without any resistance this week.

Mark Williams, 30, of Haven Lane, Maida Vale was being sentenced at Hammersmith Magistrates Court, where District Judge Andrew Turner was about to jail him for fourteen weeks.

"Are you sending me to prison today," asked Williams, who calmly opened the door of the secure glass-panelled dock, passed three solicitors and left via the front entrance, which has a permanent security presence.

There was no custody officer in the dock or time for court staff to alert security before Williams fled via the busy Talgarth Road.

He had pleaded guilty to stealing the two items, worth £2,350, from a vehicle parked in an NCP car park, Cadogan Place, Knightsbridge.

He was identified via DNA he left on a stone he used to smash the car window.

After the escape judge Turner told Williams' lawyer: "He absented himself and has a little present waiting for him as well as whatever else he faces.

"The offence is aggravated by the previous convictions.

"I'm sure you have a way of contacting him by mobile and do send him my good wishes or something like that."

Holidaymaker Caught With Antique Gun In Luggage Boarding Flight To Far East

An Eastbourne holidaymaker, caught with a gun in his luggage as he tried to board a flight to Thailand, faces a five-year minimum prison sentence after admitting the offence.

House clearer Mark Ratcliffe, 52, of Royal Parade, claims he found the firearm in a property he was emptying and forgot it was in his bag.

He pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to unlawfully possessing a prohibited firearm, namely a .32 inch Gate Loading Revolver, at Heathrow's Terminal Three on Christmas Eve, last year and was bailed until June 18 for a pre-sentence report.

Prosecutor Mr. Douglas Adams said: “The defendant was at Heathrow Airport and was going to Thailand for a holiday for a month when his hand luggage was searched and the firearm found.

“He said that his job is to clear houses and he found the item in a property and kept it at his business premises.

“He was anxious about leaving it there because he was going away on holiday and he put it in a bag and forgot it was there.

“He said he thought it was an old deactivated firearm.”

The defence claim the gun is probably around one hundred years-old, with the model's first year of manufacture dating back to 1894.

“It is almost beyond belief that somebody would deliberately take it to an airport with the security that is there now,” said Mr. Steven Pidcock, defending.

“A firearms expert concluded it is one hundred years-old, the ammunition is obsolete, but unfortunately for Mr. Ratcliffe there is modern ammunition to fit it.

“A possible defence could be to argue it is an antique or curio, but it is unlikely a court would find that.

“Mr. Ratcliffe does accept possession of it, but we will argue these offence comes under exceptional circumstances and it would be unfair to impose the minimum five-year sentence.”

The court heard the gun was in “very poor condition” and required attention before it could be fired.

“There is no suggestion this was to export for financial gain,” added Mr. Pidcock.

Judge Anne Molyneux agreed to delay sentencing so Ratcliffe can give his sister away at her wedding on June 14 announcing: “Mr. Ratcliffe should be realistic. I don't want any false hopes to be raised.

“This case does cross the custody threshold,” she told him. “You should make preparations in your life for if you do go into custody that day.”

Nurse Swindled NHS Bosses By Claiming For 'Ghost' Shifts

A respected nurse, who swindled nearly £35,000 out of the NHS hospital that employed her by claiming for double the hours she actually worked, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Anne Griffin, 37, of Battersea Park Road, Battersea submitted duplicate time-sheets to the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the three-year scam and must now repay all the money at the rate of £500 per month.

She pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to fraud by abuse of position between June 8, 2010 and February 19, last year while employed, via an agency, as a Staff Bank Nurse in relation to £34,478.

“There can be few sadder exercises than sentencing a person of good character, someone who went into a profession that seeks to care for people and over three years steal nearly thirty-five thousand pounds in money,” announced Judge Simon Davis.

“This was a breach of trust, a grave breach of trust, which you acknowledge,” the judge told the first-time offender. “This involved a degree of planning and multiple transactions.

“However, I do have a number of character references that set out how highly-regarded you are, particularly by the man you care for currently and who knows your circumstances.”

Her lawyer Mr. Jonathon Steingold told the court: “The defendant is fearful and under no illusion and apologises to the chief executive of Chelsea and Westminster.”

Griffin spent the money on regularly travelling to Ireland, where her father is battling cancer, and on other expenses concerning her family.

“This caused her to return to Ireland more frequently than usual and she was also giving money to her parents.

“The money went on making the lives of her family more comfortable and not on a lavish lifestyle.”

Traffic Warden KO'd By Ticketed Driver

Ticket Rage: Edwards

An angry driver, who violently punched the first traffic warden he saw after receiving a parking ticket, has been jailed for two-and-a-half years for inflicting serious psychological damage on the victim who is still off work seven months later.

Scaffolder Karl Edwards, 24, of Quantoc Close, Crawley also left civil enforcement officer Paul Oyelade with a serious eye injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, which prevents the full return of his vision.

Cocaine-user Edwards pleaded guilty at Isleworth Crown Court to inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr. Oyelade in Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith on October 4, last year.

"This was an offence that occurred because you wound yourself up," Judge Simon Davis told the defendant yesterday. "You'd received a parking ticket, got cross about it, and when you saw Mr. Oyelade wrongly believed he had issued it.

"You became more heated and turned that heat on him and he did not deserve it and there seems to be some form of pre-meditation

"This one punch left this traffic warden with lesser sight seven to eight months later. The cut's mended, but what about the eyesight? That's far more serious then the cut."

Still Suffering: Oyelade 

Prosecutor Mr. Subhankar Banerjee told the court it was 5pm and the victim had just issued two parking tickets to lady drivers in the area.

"He was walking along the street when out of the blue this defendant punched him in the upper right side of his face, just above his eye.

"The punch was strong enough to cause instant swelling and a one and a half centimetre cut and the force of the punch was sufficient to smash Mr. Oyelade's glasses and knock them off his face."

Edwards, who has previous convictions, was traced via DNA after police discovered his skin cells on Mr. Oyelade's smashed spectacles.

"Mr. Oyelade received an injury to his eye that required treatment, he has missed work and is still off work," explained Mr. Banerjee. "His statement deals with the physical a psychological effects of what occurred."

As recently as April 30 Mr. Oyelade, who suffers flashbacks, panic attacks, anxiety and depression since the assault, was ruled unfit to return to work and his next assessment is not until the end of July.

"He feels anxiety when he goes outside, when strangers come close and he is seeing a counsellor and has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"An ophthalmologist mentions retinal damage and pain that extends sharply to the back of his head."

A test on March 17 concluded Mr. Oyelade's on-going vision issues are now psychological. "His symptoms now relate to post-traumatic stress disorder," added Mr. Banerjee.

Edwards' lawyer Mr. Jean-Jack Chalmers told the court his client's cocaine use caused: "A heightened sense of anxiety, anger and aggression.

"He returned to his van and found a parking ticket and only made it five minutes down the road when he experienced problems with the vehicle and stopped.

"He was worked up and angry and assumed wrongly Mr. Oyelade was the same traffic warden that issued the ticket and made a stupid and mindless decision to vent his frustration.

"He immediately knew he'd done wrong, but on seeing the blood panicked and was very scared and ever since the incident it has played on his mind.

"It caused him a huge amount of fear and anxiety and he would like to apologise either via a letter or if the victim was up to it then at some point face-to-face."

Patient In Waiting-Room Attack At Medical Centre

Waiting-Room Whack At World's End

A patient with an anti-social and narcissistic personality disorder - who was kept waiting at his local medical centre - punched another man in the face while shouting: “F***ing c***, bastard foreigner.”

Eric Williams, 71, of Lots Road, West Brompton attacked the victim, who was also waiting in the surgery, after the man told him to calm down.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates Court to assaulting Mohamed Chaker on March 12 at the nearby World's End Medical Centre, King's Road and was sentenced to a twelve-month community order and ordered to pay the victim £50 compensation.

The court heard Williams entered the surgery demanding a repeat prescription and became angry when told he would have to make an appointment to see a doctor.

He calmed down a little when given a slot the next day, but then began banging hard on the glass counter.

“He said he did not want to be a second-class citizen in his own country,” explained prosecutor Mr. Martin Edwards.

“Mr. Chaker, who was seated in the waiting area, said: 'calm down' and the defendant turned and punched him in the face.”

The victim was left with blood in the white of his eye and Williams, who has previous convictions, claims he remembers nothing of the incident.

His lawyer told the court Williams, who has documented mental health problems, also suffered four heart attacks in the last twelve months and: “felt fobbed-off and had no medication.”

Muslim Caught Drink-Driving By Saudi Embassy Cops

Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia

A boozy driver, warned by police guarding the Saudi Arabian embassy not to get behind the wheel of his car, was caught sneaking back to the vehicle and driving away a couple of hours later.

Investment banker Mohammed Jaami, 30, of Fairfield Road, Ilford was still over the drink-drive limit when pulled over by officers, who also allegedly found a small amount of cocaine.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to driving his Audi with excess alcohol in his breath in Hertford Street, Mayfair on April 5 and was fined £1,200, with £85 costs, ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge and disqualified from driving for fourteen months.

He gave no indication to a charge of possessing cocaine on the same occasion and a trial date was set for next month.

The court heard police outside the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia (pictured) in Charles Street, Mayfair detected the smell of alcohol on Jaami's breath as he tried to get into his vehicle and warned him not to drive.

There was a shift handover of officers and the defendant was seen getting into the car two to three hours later and was pulled over a few streets away and taken to Paddington Green Police Station.

Jaami was represented by leading human rights lawyer Imran Khan, who told the court: “He was aware he had been drinking and made an attempt to sober up over two to three hours.

“He's muslim, but over the last year he lost his grandmother in awful circumstances and has turned to drink to alieviate those stresses.

“His father lost his business and he is now the family's sole breadwinner.

“He drove only for a short period of time.”

Nutritionist Fined For Illegal Cancer-Cure Ads

Ex-Bodybuilder: Dr. Ferguson

A controversial Harley Street nutritionist - who illegally advertised cancer treatments on his website and on youtube - has been fined £1,750 after a prosecution brought by City of Westminster trading standards.

Dr. Stephen Ferguson, 45, a former chef and bodybuilder, claimed The Natural Health Clinic's dietary and fitness advice was a successful alternative to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and his fledgling business has enjoyed a £70,000 turnover in it's first year of business.

He was convicted at Hammersmith Magistrates Court yesterday of seven charges brought under the little-known Cancer Act of 1939, in that between June 17 and October 2, last year he took part in the publication of an advertisement containing an offer to treat a person for cancer.

Dr. Ferguson, of St. Albans Avenue, East Ham describes himself as a health scientist, life coach and naturopathic doctor and earlier this year the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint against his claims.

He also offers solutions to asthma, arthritis and epilepsy as well as cancer via his own range of food and supplements such as his 'Multivitamin PH Balancer, Blood Cleanser & Energy Booster' and his 'Tropical Fruit Whey Protein Powder.'

Dr. Ferguson's website claimed the later may help protect the body from diabetes, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone disease, obesity and Alzheimer's and was part of the complaint to the ASA, which ruled his ads were misleading and could discourage individuals seeking essential medical advice.

He is also a champion and practitioner of Live Blood Analysis, also known as nutritional microscopy, a controversial diagnostic technique, which claims to show diseases before they happen.

Prosecutor Mr. William Davis told the court section four of the Cancer Act was: "To ensure medical advice for cancer was only given by professionally qualified practitioners and ensure vulnerable people are not taken advantage of.

"The front page of this website invites members of the public to call this business and consult it over a number of diseases, including cancer."

The council received a complaint on November 13, last year and Dr. Ferguson was questioned.

"He said he had an employee responsible for putting content on the website and they got carried away."

There were nearly three hundred video testimonials from satisfied customers and the website asked the question: "Do you have cancer? We can help you."

Dr. Ferguson also sold vitamin C capsules via his site, which claimed: "Many have said it helps them get rid of cancer."

Regarding bone cancer The Natural Health Clinic warned of the side-effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, adding: "These treatments hardly ever produce a cure."

Dr. Ferguson tried to distance himself from the website's content, telling the court a female employee was responsible.

"She was meant to stick to specific guidelines and not put on anything about treating cancer or anything like that," he said. "She was asked not to include her own personal views on there.

Cancer Claims: Dr. Ferguson

"I know it should not say anything that says we are treating cancer. It's purely for diet and fitness and exercise and nothing else."

Regarding a video strap line that included the word "cured" regarding Merkel cell tumour treatment Dr. Ferguson told the court: "I don't know how it got there."

It was also implied the clinic was involved in the successful treatment of a patient with prostrate cancer.

He denied uploading the youtube content, which had the username 'SFSTEVE100', and claimed not to know who did.

"I don't write on my website, I have other people update it for me. I was checking the website, but obviously not everything that went on there, there's three thousand pages."

District Judge Adrian Turner announced: "The written material refers to cancer, with a link to the clinic. It's plainly implied this is someone who treats cancer.

"Any member of the public would believe this is someone who has treated and in two cases cured cancer.

"I'm satisfied Dr. Ferguson was fully involved with everything that's on his site and anyone reading this would have no doubt this was an offer of services for those seeking treatment for cancer.

"I'm in no doubt those youtube testimonials are a major part of the company's business in treating cancer and Dr. Ferguson's approach to the Cancer Act has been a head in the sand one."

The judge also ordered Dr. Ferguson to pay £2,500 costs and a £120 victim surcharge, telling him: "You are not accused of quackery, no one is saying you are not a qualified nutritionist.

"These are reckless offences, not a deliberate attempt by you to exploit the vulnerable."

Ten Years For Chrystal Meth Smuggler

Fool's Gold: Thrower

A Suffolk drug smuggler, who was caught stepping off a plane at Heathrow with crystal methylamphetamine hidden inside his luggage, is starting a ten-year prison sentence after he was convicted by a jury.

Christopher Thrower, 37, of Station Road, Geldeston, was found guilty at Isleworth Crown Court yesterday of importing the speed-like stimulant on June 9, last year.

He was also made subject to a four-year travel restriction order after his release and must pay a £120 victim surcharge.

His co-defendant, builder and ex-musician Darren Cattermole, 41, of Meadowcroft, Hollow Lane, Mendam, Harleston, Norfolk was acquitted of importing a quantity of the drug on June 8.

The two separate seizures weighed a total of 5.89 kilos and had an approximate street value of £320,000.

Both were stopped by Border Force officers in Terminal Four after stepping off flights from Casablanca, Morocco last summer.

Their passports revealed both had travelled from Gambia to Burkina Faso on June 1 before buying one-way tickets back home.

Thrower was detained in the green 'nothing to declare' channel at 5.38pm carrying a brown suitcase and black rucksack.

He tried to avoid responsibility for the suitcase contents by claiming: "I think someone has broken my lock," because some plastic trim was missing, but the luggage was still padlocked.

The court heard a strong chemical smell was detected when the suitcase was opened and an x-ray revealed an "unusually large concealment" and a white crystal substance was discovered when the bag was spiked.

Not Guilty: Cattermole

When officers told Thrower they suspected he had imported drugs, the defendant replied: "What drugs?"

Thrower claimed he was a regular visitor to Gambia, often driving cars there to sell, and continued to receive £60-£70 a week from a local bus service he set-up with a mini-bus he drove over.

"I've got a bus there and I've been there quite a bit," he told the officers when questioned. "I use'd to drive there, taking the car to sell, and have a free holiday."

He travelled there after his driver crashed the bus he had driven over, he said, and was offered the opportunity to make £500 by travelling to Burkina Faso and transporting gold to the UK.

"I was offered one week of expenses, a paid holiday to Burkina Faso, plus five hundred pounds to take gold home."

His contacts provided the brown suitcase to transport the gold, explained Thrower, but the plan was scrapped at the last minute with a promise of £250 compensation when he arrived at Heathrow Airport.

Roma Gypsy Family Exploited Fellow Poles To Work, Beg And Steal

Ana & Dawid Gil

A family of Roma gypsies tricked three fellow-Poles into moving to London, where one was forced into slavery and subjected to brutal beatings and all had their national insurance numbers used to rip-off the benefits system, a court heard.

One female victim was constantly sexually molested and forced to shoplift and beg with her two children and the two men had to collect scrap metal for up to twenty hours per day and hand all their money over to the family.

The family are: Ana Gill, 48, and her boyfriend Jan Majewski, 48, both of High Road, Romford.

Her four son's: Wladyslaw Gil, 32, of Budock Court, Budock Drive, Ilford; Dawid Gil, 30, and Mateusz Gil, 19, both of Field Road, Forest Gate and Fabien Gil, 27, and his wife Bogumila Mirga, 30, both of Salisbury Road, Forest Gate.

"The defendants are all members of a family originating in Poland who conspired or agreed to traffic three fellow Polish nationals and exploit them," prosecutor Mr. Tim Hunter told the Croydon Crown Court jury.

"Their identity documents were confiscated and they were made to work under conditions of bonded labour and violence was routinely deployed.

Jan Majewski & Wladyslaw Gil

"They used their identities to obtain tax credits and to apply for bank loans, vehicles and other goods and all the money would be paid into accounts controlled by these defendants."

One Polish couple and their two children were brought to the UK and kept under the control of Fabien Gil, the court was told.

While the husband was sent to work at a banana-packing plant in Stanstead and surrender 70% of his wages his wife and two children were kept locked in a room for a year.

When that job ended he was forced to collect scrap metal and hand all the proceeds over, purportedly in exchange for food and lodging.

Bogumila Mirga & Fabien Gil

"The defendants were claiming child tax credits for those two children and when the mother was allowed out she was forced to shoplift and beg," explained Mr. Hunter.

"Fabien and Ana Gil threatened to beat up the children and Mateusz Gil also subjected the woman to repeated sexual assaults.

"He would follow her into the bathroom and pester her for sex. He would grab her breasts, buttocks and vagina both above and beneath her clothing."

The family escaped after the husband got Fabien Gil drunk one night, snatched his identity documents from the defendant's wallet, and fled to Wales.

They later told the police of Majewski: "He was the brains behind the operation….The boss of the whole family."

The couple had seen another Pole under the control of the family, Robert Wylezol, who also came from the town of Nysa, near the Czech border and was used to break into squats for the defendants.

Mateusz Gil

"He worked twenty hours a day collecting scrap metal in a pram and Fabien Gil kept all the proceeds and he was told to work or there would be no food.

"He received daily beatings from Wladyslaw Gil and on one occasion was beaten unconscious and suffered fractured ribs," added Mr. Hunter.

"The victim was also beaten with a metal pipe and urinated blood for a week and after escaping for one night and sleeping in a park was beaten unconscious, with ribs broken on both sides."

The jury were told the severity of the beatings were influenced by the amount of money Mr. Wylezol made for the family and he was kept under their control by threats to kill his son and family living in Poland.

He was moved to Wladyslaw's new address in Ilford, where he slept in a locked storage room with no bed, until he escaped and slept rough for four months until assisted by a charity.

Ana Gil, Wladyslaw, Dawid and Fabien are charged with conspiring to hold a person in slavery or servitude, in relation to Robert Wylezol and all four are also charged with conspiring to traffic him into and within the UK for exploitation.

Ana Gil, Wladyslaw, Dawid, Fabien and Jan Majewski are charged with conspiring to traffic the husband of the couple into and within the UK for exploitation.

All five, plus Bogumila Mirga, face two identical counts in relation to the wife.

Wladyslaw Gil is charged with four counts of actual bodily harm against Mr. Wylezol and Mateusz Gil is charged with four counts of sexual assault against the wife.

They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges, which date from January 1, 2009 until September 30, 2010 and the trial is expected to last six weeks.

Trial continues………..