A HUMAN trafficking victim has spoken about how a Glasgow taxi driver helped her escape from her captors.

Eva, from South Eastern Europe, was brought to Scotland in 2016, where she was forced to prostitute herself.

After escaping from a flat where she was held against her will and managing to get a train to Glasgow, a concerned taxi driver took her straight to the police.

The 28-year-old has spoken out about her experience to raise awareness of the fact that human trafficking is not confined to Scotland’s major towns and cities.

Research published as part of the Trafficking and Exploitation Strategy has showed that 54 per cent of people do not believe it is an issue in their local area.

However, the locations where victims of human trafficking were identified include 27 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities.

Latest figures show there were 150 potential victims of trafficking identified in Scotland in 2016 – a 52 per cent increase since 2013.

Human trafficking involves adults and children being traded and exploited for personal benefit and causes victims lasting physical and psychological damage.

Trafficking can involve victims being sexually exploited or forced into the role of a servant, or trapped in forced labour, with nail bars, car washes and construction amongst the industries where potential cases in Scotland have been reported.

Eva, was brought to Scotland after becoming engaged to a man who suggested they move to a neighbouring country where they could both have a better life.

On arrival, she was told by her fiance that she would be expected to prostitute herself, but after refusing was assaulted and drugged.

She said: “I left my country with a man I loved and trusted to start a better life and it turned out to be a living nightmare.

“I was prostituted by several different people and was moved around lots of times; I was made to sleep with up to ten men a day and was also drugged, assaulted and kept in isolation for periods at a time.”

After arriving in Glasgow, Police Scotland referred Eva to the TARA Service who provided her with safe accommodation and support.

Cabinet Secretary for Justice Michael Matheson said: “Human trafficking is an appalling abuse of human rights. This horrific crime affects the most vulnerable in society and has wide reaching consequences for its victims.

“Generating awareness that the exploitation of adults and children is happening in Scotland today is key to bringing it to an end. This important campaign is part of a series of measures being implemented to eliminate this terrible crime. No one should ever be bought or sold.”