A couple have been jailed for a combined sum of 25 years after keeping modern slaves in a Bristol house named by officials as the "gate to hell".

Maros Tancos and Joanna Gomulska trafficked at least 29 people to the UK, some of whom were raised in orphanages in Slovakia.The victims were brought to England from Slovakia and Hungary with promises of a better life, but instead landed under the control of Tancos and Gomulska from the moment they arrived, the crown prosecution service stated.

They were kept as "prisoners" in their home, facing beatings and death threats.The victims were forced to work for free at Tancos' car wash business in Bristol before heading off to do other jobs at night, the couple were spending their victims' wages on cars and gambling. One victim was forced to work at their car wash while having a broken arm, and another victim fled the house after becoming pregnant and giving birth to a baby who was severely malnourished.

Tancos had told his victims that they will be able to keep half of their wages each month, while the other half would be kept for rent and board during their stay. In reality, the victims received no money at all.Mr Tancos and Miss Gomulska were sentenced today at Bristol Crown Court after being convicted of many modern slavery offences back in April. They were subjected to a three month trial which exposed all of their illicit activity.Tancos was jailed for 16 years and Gomulska was given a nine-year prison sentence.