A Czech couple who trafficked a vulnerable man to the United Kingdom and forced him to work at a McDonald’s restaurant in Cambridgeshire have been sentenced to prison.
Exploited Worker for Months
Jan Drevenak was sentenced to eight years in prison, while Monika Olahova received a six-and-a-half-year sentence. Both will be deported after serving their terms.
Prosecutors said Drevenak lured an unemployed man from the Czech Republic to the UK in 2018 with promises of a better life. After arriving, the victim’s identification documents were taken, and he was forced to work long shifts at a McDonald’s restaurant in Cambridgeshire.
Despite earning about £12,000 over several months, the victim received only £90, with his wages deposited into Olahova’s bank account.
Family-Run Trafficking Network
The court heard the victim was given little food and lived in poor conditions while being exploited. He was later transferred to another member of the trafficking ring, who continued the abuse.
The case was the final trial connected to a family-run modern slavery operation. Jan Drevenak’s brothers, Ernest and Zdenek Drevenak, were jailed in 2024 for their roles in exploiting multiple men and profiting from their wages.
Judge Condemns Defendants
Sentencing the pair, Judge Geoffrey Payne described their actions as “disgraceful,” saying they treated the victim as property and showed no remorse.
Cambridgeshire Police said the case highlights that modern slavery can occur anywhere and praised cooperation with McDonald’s, which has since introduced measures aimed at preventing similar exploitation.
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