When a man called Jakub* showed up to A&E in 2021 with a gash extending from his forehead down over his left eye, hospital staff and police questioned what had happened to him.

A Slovakian in his late 50s, Jakub described how he had been beaten by the son of a couple he’d been living with for three years. The family had also taken all of his documents and set up a bank account in his name, which only they could access his money from.

By the time he left hospital, Jakub had 24 stitches across his face – but he was too afraid to press charges against his attacker.

‘I had to go back to that house and if I did, what would happen then? The violence would escalate even more,’ the now 61-year-old tells Metro.

The reality was Jakub was a victim of modern slavery trafficking – tricked into coming to the UK for a better life, but trapped working for pennies and living in horrendous conditions with no way of escape.

Since finally finding freedom in June 2022, Jakub has been sharing his experiences with the cast and producers of ITV’s Emmerdale, as they explore the issue in a hard-hitting, long-running storyline.

Their first glimpse was earlier this year, when teenage  characters April and Dylan, played by Amelia Flanagan and Fred Kettle, were manipulated into a dangerous cycle of crime under the control of trafficker, Ray, played by Joe Absolom.

However, in a special episode last month, it was revealed that another character, Bear – an older man who villagers had previously moved away to Ireland – had also fallen victim to Ray and his mother, Celia (Jaye Griffiths).

It’s a narrative that highlights the very real and present threat of modern slavery in the UK, and has seen the show work closely with the Salvation Army for months to ensure authenticity of storylines and scripts.

In preparation, Joshua Richards who plays Bear met with Jakub to hear his story, which the actor revealed had a profound impact on him.

Joshua told Metro earlier this year: ‘I was amazed that this was someone who wasn’t gullible and was very intelligent and forthright who was duped. I was struck by his integrity and his dignity.

‘That gave me a great latch on to the subject, because I thought if it could happen to this guy it could happen quite easily to an older man who’s got somewhat depressed and not feeling valued, somebody who has basically lost the plot.

‘It’s easy to be manipulated. It was quite poignant really.’

This year, 2,409 potential victims representing more than 100 nationalities, backgrounds, and experiences, entered The Salvation Army’s support services – 332 fewer than the year before.

However, the charitysays they believe the downturn in referrals in’t something to be celebrate, but rather is linked to survivor’s fear that they will be treated as criminals rather than victims – particularly those trafficked into the UK or foreign nationals exploited while here.

At the same time, inconsistent training for First Responders (such as the police and local authorities) means too many people remain invisible and unable to access life-saving help.

‘Modern slavery remains a widespread problem in every town, village and city,’ Kathy Betteridge, The Salvation Army’s Director of Anti-Trafficking and Modern Slavery, explains to Metro. ‘Criminals prey on vulnerability. They groom and coerce people – adults and young people alike – into situations where they feel trapped and powerless.  We are deeply concerned that victims are being silenced by fear and left in the shadows.’

Jakub tells Metro that three years before he turned up to hospital, he had been living in his home country of Slovakia, struggling to make ends meet after his partner absconded with all the money he had earned over his career in both business and the armed forces.

A couple Jakub had known as a child, had moved to England and told him they could get him a job and a place to stay.

‘When we came to the UK, all was nice at first,’ Jakub remembers. He moved into the couple’s house, placed in a tiny box room with blank walls that could only fit his single bed.

‘Slowly, the couple’s other family members started coming to stay in the house. I was the only one – out of all of them – who was working, at a nearby chicken factory. It was labour intensive. I was working night shifts, just coming home to sleep in the day.’

Although Jakub had been promised a salary of around £500 a week, he had yet to see any of it, as unbeknown to him, the couple had taken his official identity documents and opened up a bank account in his name, which only they could access.

In fact, Jakub only discovered the deception after he tried to set up a phone contract and was told there was already one in his name.

‘They (the couple) had set up my bank account, and all the money went directly to them through this account,’ he explains. ‘They would just give me pocket money – £50 a week – for transportation and snacks.’

The unemployed couple spent the rest of his wages on rent and their own food, as well as getting credit in Jakub’s name to buy phones and household appliances, causing him to spiral further into debt.

When he confronted them after his discovery, the couple’s son beat Jakub up so badly he had to be hospitalised. It was the first of many beatings and from there, physical assault became routine.

The family would warn him that if he ever attempted to leave, they would make sure ‘something will happen’ to Jakub. Without a passport, bank account, or fluent English, he felt trapped.

‘I didn’t know what my options were –Ididn’t know there was government organisations and charities who worked to help people in my position.

‘There was this emotional pressure too,’ says Jakub, explaining how the couple guilted him to stay. ‘They told me they had invested money in me.’

Jakub refused to allow himself to feel fear, deciding it wouldn’t help him out of the situation. Instead, he stayed calm, sometimes leaving work early so he could secretly meditate in a local park.

In the end, he didn’t have to try and escape because in the spring of 2022 the family kicked Jakub out without any reason, making him homeless.

‘I had only my jeans that I was wearing, a shirt and a jumper,’ he remembers. ‘I slept in the park, I’m not sure for how long – one, two, or three months. A nearby food bank would give me food. A man once gave me a sleeping bag. Someone else gave me a plastic bag in case it rained.’

When a former colleague stumbled across him in the park and offered to help get him support, Jakub admits he was too embarrassed to accept it. ‘I wasn’t in good shape,’ he remembers. ‘I stunk, and didn’t want to go to their house to find help.’

But that chance meeting made Jakub realise that he had to do something – so decided to tell his boss everything. Thankfully, he was understanding andn called the police who put him in contact with the relevant authorities, who in turn put Jakub in touch with The Salvation Army.

Although he was finally safe, it didn’t mean his ordeal was over though. ‘This is when the depression kicked in,’ remembers Jakub, describing how he began to recall everything he had endured and the impact it had on him. ‘Emotions started bursting out of me. They were exploding. It was like a stone falling off my heart.’

Every passing thought he’d had in previous years that the way he was treated was wrong was finally affirmed when he was told he was a victim of forced labour, a form of modern slavery where a victim is coerced to work against their will.

‘I blamed myself as well – that I had put myself into this position,’ he explains.

Once supported by The Salvation Army to get housing, write off his fraudulent debts, access medical care, and receive a proper income, Jakub finally felt his life start to turn a corner.

‘I’ve started an interpreter course, focusing on my art and photography. I will always try to do things and have lots of plans.

‘I’ve never given up,’ adds Jakub. ‘Every day is a new day, and my story is just beginning now.’

Meanwhile, the Salvation Army has seen firsthand how powerful the Emmerdale storyline has been, as someone got in touch after seeing the show.

‘We’re not often sure of the reason someone has come forward for support, but one came to us directly as a result of a viewer spotting something of concern and reporting it,’ a spokesperson told Metro.

‘This is one life transformed and we believe it will be one of many.’

*Name has been changed.