News / Bristol Magistrates Court
Two members of Lopresti family charged with modern slavery
Father and son Salvatore Lopresti and Robert Lopresti have been jointly charged with an offence contrary to the Modern Slavery Act.
The pair, part of the family that are famous for selling ice cream and the uncle and cousin of Filton & Bradley Stoke MP Jack Lopresti, appeared in Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.
Salvatore, 74, of Yeo Lane, Long Ashton, and Robert, 45, of Fenshurst Gardens, Long Ashton, spoke only to confirm their names and addresses from the dock.
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They both entered no plea to the charge that between January 1 2009 and December 27 2016 at 70 Bedminster Parade they required Tomasz Twardowski “to perform forced or compulsory labour, the circumstances being such that you knew that he was being required to perform forced or compulsory labour contrary to sections of the Modern Slavery Act 2015”.
It is alleged that Polish national Twardowski was made to work at different places for little or no pay, allegedly with money deducted for accommodation and allegedly with his ID documents withheld.
Salvatore is also charged with ABH. After no pleas were entered on behalf of Salvatore and Robert, it was decided that the allegations were too serious for them to be tried at magistrates’ court.
The pair were released on unconditional bail and told to report to Bristol Crown Court on November 2.
Lopresti Ice Cream on Bedminster Parade
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