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Trafficked Chinese woman: 'The lorry door opened and we ran' Trafficked Chinese woman: 'The lorry door opened and we ran'
(about 1 month later)
A woman in her 40s, who asks to be known as Anna, tells her story:A woman in her 40s, who asks to be known as Anna, tells her story:
I grew up on a farm in a rural village in China. My siblings and I worked on this family farm. I wasn’t able to go to school and never had any education.I grew up on a farm in a rural village in China. My siblings and I worked on this family farm. I wasn’t able to go to school and never had any education.
My parents arranged a marriage for me when I was young. I didn’t have much choice in the matter. I ended up having two children with my husband.My parents arranged a marriage for me when I was young. I didn’t have much choice in the matter. I ended up having two children with my husband.
One day, my husband was asked to deliver a package belonging to his business partner. He didn’t know it contained a large quantity of heroin. He was stopped by police, detained and given the death penalty. I was suddenly alone.One day, my husband was asked to deliver a package belonging to his business partner. He didn’t know it contained a large quantity of heroin. He was stopped by police, detained and given the death penalty. I was suddenly alone.
The trafficker came to my house with another friend of his. He wanted the money he had lost when the heroin was seized by the police. He pushed me against a wall and I was left with my head bleeding and swelling around my eye which led to vision problems.The trafficker came to my house with another friend of his. He wanted the money he had lost when the heroin was seized by the police. He pushed me against a wall and I was left with my head bleeding and swelling around my eye which led to vision problems.
My friend recommended I go to another city to find work to pay off the debt. I left my children with my parents to keep them safe.My friend recommended I go to another city to find work to pay off the debt. I left my children with my parents to keep them safe.
I met a guy who took me, along with some men, in a van and promised to get me a well-paid job. I had no idea where I was going, but I thought it would be somewhere in China. After a few hours, we stopped and went into a house. I was put in a room next to where the men were to sleep. In the night, one of the men came in and said if I didn’t give him money, he was going to rape me. I didn’t have any money, and so was raped. Afterwards, I lay in the room terrified, unable to sleep.I met a guy who took me, along with some men, in a van and promised to get me a well-paid job. I had no idea where I was going, but I thought it would be somewhere in China. After a few hours, we stopped and went into a house. I was put in a room next to where the men were to sleep. In the night, one of the men came in and said if I didn’t give him money, he was going to rape me. I didn’t have any money, and so was raped. Afterwards, I lay in the room terrified, unable to sleep.
We walked for over a day, travelling past fields. We were eventually put in a large lorry that was like a fridge. I was freezing and I hugged myself and curled up in the corner trying desperately to keep warm. Men were coming into the lorry and being dropped off, but I was too tired to pay attention.We walked for over a day, travelling past fields. We were eventually put in a large lorry that was like a fridge. I was freezing and I hugged myself and curled up in the corner trying desperately to keep warm. Men were coming into the lorry and being dropped off, but I was too tired to pay attention.
They drove us for a long time, for around 48 hours. We were given pieces of bread and they threw water bottles at us to drink and wash ourselves. At one point there was six of us in the lorry and we were banging on the inside of the lorry, as we were desperate to get out, but we were ignored.They drove us for a long time, for around 48 hours. We were given pieces of bread and they threw water bottles at us to drink and wash ourselves. At one point there was six of us in the lorry and we were banging on the inside of the lorry, as we were desperate to get out, but we were ignored.
Driver of lorry in which 58 Chinese died gets 14 yearsDriver of lorry in which 58 Chinese died gets 14 years
The moment the lorry door opened, we jumped out and ran. We hid in a forest for a whole day and a farmer found us, but none of us understood what he was saying. The police came with a Mandarin interpreter. It was then I realised I was no longer in China. We told we were in the UK. None of us could believe it.The moment the lorry door opened, we jumped out and ran. We hid in a forest for a whole day and a farmer found us, but none of us understood what he was saying. The police came with a Mandarin interpreter. It was then I realised I was no longer in China. We told we were in the UK. None of us could believe it.
I was put in a detention centre. Once I was released, I saw the traffickers were waiting for me outside the detention centre. I didn’t know how to get help as I couldn’t speak English.I was put in a detention centre. Once I was released, I saw the traffickers were waiting for me outside the detention centre. I didn’t know how to get help as I couldn’t speak English.
I was taken to a remote flat and was told I was going to do a hospitality job, but it turned out I had to be a prostitute. They wanted me to have sex with 30 men a day, and when I couldn’t manage that they were violent towards me, cutting my arm with a sharp object on one occasion. Another time I cut my wrists to try to kill myself.I was taken to a remote flat and was told I was going to do a hospitality job, but it turned out I had to be a prostitute. They wanted me to have sex with 30 men a day, and when I couldn’t manage that they were violent towards me, cutting my arm with a sharp object on one occasion. Another time I cut my wrists to try to kill myself.
I was there for six months. They threatened me and told me I had to pay back my debt or they’d kill my parents.I was there for six months. They threatened me and told me I had to pay back my debt or they’d kill my parents.
I eventually escaped and for several years I worked mostly in Chinese restaurants. I wasn’t paid. In one restaurant in London, I was forced to have sex with the chef who threatened to report me to the immigration authorities if I didn’t.I eventually escaped and for several years I worked mostly in Chinese restaurants. I wasn’t paid. In one restaurant in London, I was forced to have sex with the chef who threatened to report me to the immigration authorities if I didn’t.
I was arrested during an immigration raid at the restaurant this year. I was taken to Yarl’s Wood detention centre and was told I would be deported to China.I was arrested during an immigration raid at the restaurant this year. I was taken to Yarl’s Wood detention centre and was told I would be deported to China.
I felt constantly panicky and afraid and was crying a lot of the time. I know I have growths in my womb from when I had managed to have a scan before I was detained, but healthcare in Yarl’s Wood dismissed me. They said they didn’t have scanning equipment and so couldn’t help me.I felt constantly panicky and afraid and was crying a lot of the time. I know I have growths in my womb from when I had managed to have a scan before I was detained, but healthcare in Yarl’s Wood dismissed me. They said they didn’t have scanning equipment and so couldn’t help me.
I got a private solicitor, but he took £600 from me and didn’t help me. Finally, I got a good legal aid solicitor with the help of Women for Refugee Women and she got me released last month.I got a private solicitor, but he took £600 from me and didn’t help me. Finally, I got a good legal aid solicitor with the help of Women for Refugee Women and she got me released last month.
Immigration and asylumImmigration and asylum
Human traffickingHuman trafficking
Sex tradeSex trade
ProstitutionProstitution
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