5 Live News Specials - Modern Slavery: Sanu’s Story

A victim of modern slavery has told BBC Radio 5 Live how he was forced to work seven days a week for seven years.

Sanu, not his real name, came to the UK from Bangladesh to study and was befriended by a man who offered him a job in his shop.

This man manipulated every aspect of Sanu’s life and forced him to work continuously without a day off.

Sanu told Nihal Arthanayake that the man ‘controlled me like you’d play a computer game’.

Sanu’s situation only came to the attention of authorities when a customer offered him a lifeline at the end of 2018. He's now living in a Salvation Army safe house and is telling his story in the hope of saving others still trapped in modern slavery.

If you’re concerned about modern slavery, advice can be found at www.modernslaveryhelpline.org or call 08000 121 700

You can also contact the Salvation Army's 24/7 confidential referral helpline on 0300 303 8151 and find more information at www.salvationarmy.org.uk/modern-slavery.

Published on Thursday, 14th November 2019.

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