An unscrupulous takeaway boss will be jailed after he was convicted of enslaving alcoholic tenants and forcing them to work at his chip shop for free.
Harjit Bariana, 46, supplied drink and drugs to vulnerable tenants of his property in Blyth, Northumberland, and fed them leftovers rather than pay them for the hours they worked, often in grim conditions.
One was forced to clear out a sewage pipe without gloves, while another had his shoes removed and was made to walk to work barefoot, police said.
Bariana, known as Harry, exploited local men and threatened or beat them if they did not comply, his trial at Newcastle Crown Court heard.
Bariana, who has previous convictions for handling stolen goods, selling counterfeit clothes and illegal money lending, picked his victims because they were vulnerable and faced being made homeless if they did not work for him.
Bariana owned properties in central Blyth which he rented to people who received housing benefit.
Bariana, of Netherton Colliery, Northumberland, told police when he was arrested that the tenants were lying.
He will be sentenced next month and was remanded in custody.
Judge Sarah Mallett denied him bail, saying: “In the light of what I have heard about the concerns that the witnesses expressed for retribution and in the light of what I have said about the likely sentence and other consequences that will follow from that, he will have to be remanded in custody.”
Denise Lillico, 51, of Dalton Crescent, Byker, Newcastle, was cleared of supplying class C drugs.