CHARITY boss Nerijus Gudelevicius who trafficked a Lithuanian couple into the UK so they could work for him has been told he is facing jail.

Gudelevicius, of Melrose Close, Westlea, brought the fellow countryman and his pregnant girlfriend to Swindon with the lure of well paid work and accommodation, Swindon Crown Court heard yesterday.

But once they arrived from Holland, where they had struggled to find work because of language difficulties, he put them up in a two bed terrace with no hot water and up to ten other people.

And the promises they said he had made about good wages also failed materialise as he got them distributing bags for unwanted clothes through householders’ doors.

Although the jury of ten men and two women found him guilty of two counts of people trafficking, they cleared him of four charges of requiring a person to perform forced or compulsory labour.

It had been alleged Gudelevicius had confiscated workers’ passports so they could not leave. The court was told that the 34-year-old had previous convictions in Lithuania for theft and robbery.

Judge Tim Mousley QC adjourned the case and warned him to expect jail.

“You have been convicted by a jury of two serious offences which are extremely likely to result in an immediate custodial sentence,” he said.

“I will grant you bail between now and then but do not take that as an indication that there won’t be a custodial sentence.”

He made it a condition of his bail that he does not apply for travel documents having been told his passport and ID card had been taken by the police.

Gudelevicius will be sentenced at Salisbury Crown Court on June 19.

After the trial Acting Detective Inspector Rob Findlay said: “Wiltshire Police are extremely pleased with today’s verdict.

“This positive result is recognition of months of robust investigative work, into human trafficking, to bring Nerijus Gudelevicius to justice.

“The victims of human trafficking are often very vulnerable people who are used as simple commodities - often for the financial gain of the perpetrators.

“Those people, in this case, have been given the full care and support of Wiltshire Police and our partnership agencies.

“Wiltshire Police will always treat human trafficking as a priority and vigorously investigate, along with our partners, such incidents.

“Community-based intelligence proves crucial in investigations such as this, and I would always urge anyone with information or concerns about potential victims of modern slavery to contact Wiltshire Police on 101.”