A WOMAN charged with conspiring to keep a man as a slave was granted bail yesterday after her brother-in-law offered a £40,000 security payment.

Helen Collins, 44, of Redbridge Hollow, Oxford, appeared at Oxford Crown Court yesterday morning alongside three others charged in connection with raids at Redbridge Hollow last month.

Her brother-in-law David Collins travelled from Manchester with his wife to offer the money in exchange for her release.

Judge Ian Pringle agreed to the deal and said once Mr Collins had paid the court, Mrs Collins could go home to her husband and five children.

He said if she attends every day of the trial, he will get the money back.

The judge asked Mr Collins: “What gives you such confidence that Mrs Collins will turn up at her trial?”

He replied: “I’m very confident, your honour. I’ve know her for 30 years, since I was a kid, I would trust her with my life.

“Not a problem.”

Mrs Collins was being held in custody, charged along with Christopher, Timothy and Mary Joyce, also of Redbridge Hollow, of conspiring to hold Nicholas Illiff as a slave and conspiring to require him to perform forced labour at Redbridge Hollow between 2010 and this year.

All three defendants appeared at crown court yesterday for a preliminary hearing.

A total of ten people were arrested during dawn raids at Redbridge Hollow, Blackbird Leys and Rose Hill involving 150 police officers on Thursday, March 26.

Timothy Joyce has been charged with 19 offences was remanded in custody after yesterday’s hearing.

Christopher and Mary Joyce are charged with three offences each and had their bail conditions varied.

There will be a plea and case management hearing at the court on June 22.