FOUR people appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday accused of keeping a man as a slave.

Michael Joyce, 24, of Redbridge Hollow, Old Abingdon Road, Oxford, has been charged with conspiring to hold another person in slavery or servitude and conspiring to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.

Helen Cash, 30, of Ver Meadows caravan site, St Albans, Herefordshire, has been charged with conspiring to hold another person in slavery or servitude, two counts of conspiring to require a person to perform forced or compulsory labour and three counts of fraud.

Paul Joyce, 32, also of Ver Meadows caravan site, has been charged with two counts of conspiring to hold another person in slavery or servitude and forcing him to work, along with five counts of fraud and one count of causing actual bodily harm.

Ifran Iqbal, 29, of Millfield Walk, Hemel Hempstead, is charged with conspiring to force the man to work and one count of fraud. He is on bail and his three co-defendants are in custody.

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Thames Valley Police said the offences allegedly took place between January 2012 and November last year and concern a 27-year-old man.

All four are now due to appear for a plea and case management hearing on March 6, with a provisional trial due to take place on June 8.


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