Czech immigrants were trafficked into the UK by a Roma family on the promise of a 'better life' were forced to work for free and sleep in cupboards, a court was told. The victims were lured to Britain but were 'treated like dogs' - being made to urinate in buckets and live and eat outside in winter, prosecutors say. The jury heard how the workers were kept under duress amid fears for the safety of their families back home and sent to work in dog food factories, food plants and car washes in Plymouth, Devon. But they were made to give over all their wages, forced to eat outside during the winter and do housework to pay off 'loans' for their board and passage, a jury heard. Accused: Petr Tancos (left) and sister Ruzena Tancosova (right) are on trial for people trafficking in Plymouth . The allegations of their shocking treatment were made during a trial of five family members at Plymouth Crown Court. Ruzena Tancosova, 34, brother Petr Tancos, 35, cousin Martin Tancos, 35, Nela Dzurkova, 26, and Katerina Kurejova, 35, all of Plymouth, are charged with people trafficking. All deny the charges. Police say victims would be threatened with violence by the gang who pocketed their wages and benefits - believed to be around £150,000 - and even made them shoplift. Malcolm Galloway, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said the five defendants, all members of an extended Czech Roma family, brought the immigrants over. He said a neighbour also saw one standing by and directing one of the men to cut grass with a kitchen knife. He said: 'These defendants entered into a criminal agreement to traffick other Czech nationals into the UK and then exploit them for financial benefit.' Mr Galloway said: 'They (the immigrants) came with a promise of good pay, a job and a future.' Mr Galloway said the family used various methods to exploit the men - including for example putting a notice on the toilet door charging £1 for its use. But the court heard that the men were also threatened with violence if they failed to comply. He said: 'They would put them up in their houses in Plymouth. The Czech nationals would sometimes have to sleep on the floor, outside in the garage. 'They would have to urinate in buckets and eat outside.' He added that police started surveillance after two immigrants went to the authorities. Officers then searched their properties on September 16 last year. The court heard one man, Josef Bukovinsky, told police he had been 'living with the gypsies' in the Czech Republic before he was 'sold to Ruzena' (Tancosova). On trial: Nela Dzurkova (left) and Katerina Kurejova (right) are part of a Roma family accused of illegally trafficking Czech migrants into the UK and 'treating them like dogs' Mr Galloway said he was one of 11 men who lived with Tancosova in less than three years at a former address in Plymouth. All five defendants are charged with conspiracy to traffic individuals into the country for the purpose of exploitation between April 6, 2013, and September 16, 2014. Tancosova, Petr Tancos and Dzurkova are also charged with the same offence again but applying to an earlier period between January 1, 2010, and April 5, 2013. Tancosova and Martin Tancos are further accused of acting as gangmasters in supplying workers to pack agricultural products. Tancosova and Petr Tancos also allegedly required a person to perform forced or compulsory labour between 2010 and 2014. Mr Galloway told the trial that Tancos was seen by neighbours at different addresses to supervise the immigrants. He said a neighbour of Tancos and partner and co-defendant Nela Dzurkova spotted three men apparently living in their garage. The woman told police she saw Dzurkova passing food out of the kitchen window to men who stood in the garden of the house eating from trays in winter. He said: 'She also saw Petr Tancos standing by and directing one of the men to cut the grass with a kitchen knife.' He said the man was on his hands and knees. Mr Galloway said the neighbour noticed that Petr Tancos encouraged his children to throw stones at the men. She estimated that between 10 and 12 men lived at the home at different times. Mr Galloway said another immigrant, Miroslav Ritter, stayed with Petr Tancos and Dzurkova at their last address. He added: 'He slept, in his words, like a dog under the window in the living room, in a gap between the table and window. 'He slept on the carpet with a blanket and a pillow.' Jan Banyak told police he stayed at the home of Martin Tancos and Kurejova and £600 a month in rent to sleep on the kitchen floor. Mr Banyak believed that he earned about £250 a week working in a factory, but he did not know where the money went. He only received about £10 from Martin Tancos. Mr Galloway said: 'He told the police they usually had to eat outside. There were 10 of them and Katerina Kurejova did not want them inside as there were only two rooms. They eat mostly tinned food.' He added that when police raided the address, they found two other men sleeping on mattresses, under the stairs and in the kitchen. Mr Galloway said Tancosova, who had four bank accounts, pocketed £86,517 in benefits over four years and eight months. He added: 'The credit turnover for the accounts, including benefit payments, amounted to £148,923.' Mr Galloway said police had not been able to trace everyone they suspected of staying at the rented homes of the family. The trial continues. 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Five members of Czech Roma family on trial for people trafficking .
Prosecutors say victims were lured to UK under promise of better life but were 'treated like dogs'
Court heard they were sent to work at car washes and dog food factory .
Police claim accused used 'threat of violence' to force compliance .