A MAN who enslaved two vulnerable victims, forcing them to work for nothing and to build him a pub at an Oxford travellers' site, has been convicted.

As the unanimous guilty verdicts in the trial of Michael Joyce were handed down yesterday, a court Judge said the 60-year old 'cajoled and bullied' his victims.

Judge Ian Pringle QC said: "You have been convicted by this jury of serious criminal offences.

"These occurred over the period of a year or more where you effectively cajoled and bullied two men into working for you for nothing.

"You not only did that but you helped yourself to their money and their partners' money.

"There is only one sort of sentence that is going to be passed with these offences."

Oxford Mail:

Michael Joyce pictured (right) at the Dons Bar pub

The trial at Oxford Crown Court heard how the two men were forced to work for nothing during an 18-month period at Redbridge Hollow, where Joyce lived, between April 1, 2016 and January 30, 2018.

As part of the forced labour the victims, described as 'vulnerable' and having been 'groomed' by Joyce, were made to carry out building work, including the construction of a pub known as 'The Dons Bar'.

READ AGAIN: Oxford slavery trial: Michael Joyce made man's life 'hell', court hears.

Joyce had denied all five counts of modern slavery charges relating to forced labour and exploitation but after just three hours and 14 minutes jurors at Oxford Crown Court found him guilty.

During the trial - a re-trial after jurors could not reach a verdict in the first case - the jury panel of nine women and three men heard how Joyce had taken advantage of mental illness and the drug use of his two victims.

Prosecutor Kim Preston said that ‘implicit threats’ were made to one of the victims - Paul West, as well as his partner and his elderly father.

Speaking of his ordeal Mr West said he was 'petrified' of Joyce and that his life with the family 'was hell'.

He said: "I used to cry myself to sleep. My life was not in a good place.

“It was just a constant battle with every aspect of my day-to-day life.

“My life with the Joyces was hell."

By the summer of 2016, Mr West said he was being forced to work at the travellers' site, which is off Abingdon Road, sometimes for £10 a day or a small bag of tobacco.

Mr West said he would never ‘take it for granted’ that he would be paid and there were ‘plenty of days’ when he got nothing for his labouring work between 9.30am and 7pm.

On a fortnightly basis Joyce would call Mr West on the day he received his benefits to ask for payments, driving him to a cash point if he didn't have the money.

A second victim, Paul Gilding, told jurors he was only ever paid in heroin or packs of cannabis and cigarettes, with the single exception of a one-off £20 payment.

READ AGAIN: Michael Joyce slavery trial at Oxford Crown Court - Paul Gilding gives evidence.

He said he spent about 11 weeks building a pub at the travellers’ site, which was known as The Dons Bar.

Jurors were told how the pub had timber steps leading up to a decked veranda, two statues flanking double doors, lights and hanging baskets outside and a fully-equipped bar inside, including wine racks and a cigarette machine.

Oxford Mail:

Explaining how he was paid, Mr Gilding said he would travel to Blackbird Leys and ‘score heroin’, and Joyce would pay for his £10 fix every morning.

He said he would take the heroin when they got to the site, usually in the tool shed or in a van, which would stave off his withdrawal symptoms and keep him working.

Mr Gilding also said Joyce gave him a ‘slap’ on two occasions, once when he ignored his calls and another when he answered back.

He said would get a ‘bol****ing’ if he disobeyed him and it was ‘fear’ that kept him going back.

Explicitly denying any wrong-doing during the trial, Joyce, from the witness box, told jurors that the men had each been paid for their work and he had seen them as his friends.

READ AGAIN: Michael Joyce gives evidence in Redbridge Hollow slavery trial at Oxford Crown Court.

Joyce referred to The Dons Bar as 'a man's cave' and said it was built to provide a place for family celebrations such as birthdays, Halloween, and Christmas gatherings but claimed it was not a functioning pub.

Oxford Mail:

The Don's Bar, decorated for Christmas

He added that he had been 'pleased' with the final construction which included a jukebox, one functioning beer pump, and an old cigarette machine.

After the guilty verdicts yesterday Judge Pringle adjourned the sentencing hearing for time to 'reflect' before passing his sentence.

Joyce was remanded in custody to await his sentencing to be held at the same court on Tuesday.