A MAN who allegedly exploited two vulnerable men forcing them to work for free told jurors 'they were my friends' and that they were paid every day.

Michael Joyce, 60, his sons Michael Joyce, 26,and John Joyce, 34, all from Redbridge Hollow, Oxford, all deny five counts alleging forced labour and modern slavery.

Prosecutors allege that they forced two men into working for nothing at the Redbridge Hollow site for an 18-month period.

As their trial at Oxford Crown Court continued today one of the men - Michael Joyce senior took to the witness box. He denied ever threatening the men or forcing them to work for nothing. He said: "I have never forced anyone to work for me.

When they finished the job they were paid in the kitchen. "They would be paid their money and they would ask to get a diversion to Blackbird Leys."

Asked if they were taken to Blackbird Leys specifically to buy drugs Joyce senior answered that what they did after work was up to them.

He added that the men were paid either £50 or £40 each day for their work on a so-called 'man cave' building at the Traveller site.

The bar-like structure was made to look authentic but was not a fully functioning bar, jurors were told. Joyce senior also denied ever threatening the men with violence or intimidating them to carry out the work for nothing.

During cross examination with prosecutor Kim Preston she put to Joyce senior that a number of calls had been made to one of the two men after the alleged forced labour had ended.

Answering her, Joyce senior said: "I thought they were friends of mine, just because they had finished the work it doesn't mean I can't talk to them."

Meanwhile, David Boiling, 33, of Northfield Close, Littlemore, was cleared of all counts yesterday after defence barristers argued successfully that there was no case for him to answer.

The three men deny all charges and the trial continues.