Two individuals have been sentenced to jail for their involvement in a modern slavery scheme that exploited a man at a McDonald’s restaurant in Cambridgeshire. Jan Drevenak, 39, and Monika Olahova, 41, were convicted of orchestrating transportation for exploitation and enslaving a person following a trial at Luton Crown Court. This trial marked the conclusion of three cases linked to a family-operated human trafficking ring that coerced 12 individuals from Eastern Europe into labor across Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire. Drevenak’s brothers, Zdenek and Ernest, along with Ernest’s partner Veronika Bubencikova, had previously been sentenced in 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The victim, who had lost his job, was acquainted with Jan Drevenak in the Czech Republic in 2017. Drevenak offered to assist him in finding employment and housing in the UK, arranging his travel with the understanding that the costs would be repaid from his earnings. Upon arriving in the UK in early 2018, the man was relocated to Derby before settling in Bedford with Drevenak, while Ernest Drevenak and Bubencikova resided in Cambourne, Cambridgeshire.
The victim was compelled to work extensive shifts at a McDonald’s outlet in Caxton Gibbet, enduring rigorous 12-hour workdays six times a week. Jan Drevenak transported him to and from the restaurant but was unreliable, occasionally abandoning him overnight. The man’s wages were deposited into Olahova’s bank account, with him receiving only £90 out of over £12,000 earned between March and October 2018. When he requested additional payment, he was informed that his wages covered travel expenses and living costs.
Additionally, Drevenak controlled the victim’s identification documents, and the victim reported being assaulted by him multiple times. In October 2018, the victim left Drevenak’s residence and relocated to Ernest Drevenak’s place, closer to his workplace. Subsequently, following the change in circumstances, Jan Drevenak received £1,000 from his brother, prompting the victim’s wages to cease being redirected to Olahova’s account. Authorities were alerted in October 2019 to the exploitation case at the McDonald’s restaurant, leading to an investigation and the victim’s interview by specialized officers.
At the sentencing at Luton Crown Court on June 4, Drevenak, residing in Alconbury, received an eight-year prison term, while Olahova, residing in St Neots, was sentenced to six years and six months. Both individuals may face deportation upon serving a portion of their sentences — Drevenak after two-thirds and Olahova after half. His Honour Judge Geoffrey Payne, during sentencing, underscored the prevalence of modern slavery as a contemporary malevolence, emphasizing every individual’s inherent rights to dignity and respect, which the victim in this case was deprived of, being treated as a possession in deplorable conditions.
Detective Sergeant Nick Webber expressed that this case highlights the omnipresence of modern slavery, reiterating the need for vigilance and reporting of any suspicions. He condemned Drevenak’s exploitation of a vulnerable individual, emphasizing the victim’s plight transitioning from a promising opportunity to a harrowing ordeal of labor exploitation. McDonald’s, in collaboration with law enforcement, implemented measures to prevent similar offenses, reinforcing their commitment to combat modern slavery and ensure the welfare of their workforce.
By staying vigilant and promptly reporting any signs of modern slavery, individuals can potentially rescue those ensnared in desperate circumstances. McDonald’s and its franchisees remain dedicated to fortifying vigilance against exploitation and fostering a safe environment for their extensive workforce in the UK and Ireland, aligning with governmental and societal efforts to combat modern slavery.
