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16/04/2007
Machete loan shark described as "parasite"
Consumer Minister Ian McCartney has welcomed the jailing of a loan shark "parasite" who kidnapped a customer and beat him with a baseball bat before cutting him with a machete.
Lee Reece Walker, of the Glebe, was today sentenced to three and a-half years at Birmingham Crown Court, after he was found guilty in January of kidnap, wounding, assault and blackmail at Birmingham Crown Court.
Following a prosecution by Birmingham City Council's Illegal Money Lending Team, Walker also pleaded guilty to running an illegal money lending business (loan sharking) and 10 counts of counterfeiting.
He was sentenced to three years for kidnap, nine months for assault causing actual bodily harm, 18 months for unlawful wounding and 18 months for blackmail, all to be served concurrently. He was sentenced to six months for illegal money lending, to be served consecutively.
Walker's son, Christopher, earlier found guilty of kidnap and assault, was today sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for kidnap and a concurrent nine-month sentence for assault.
On 31st May 2006 Lee and Christopher Walker pulled up outside a bus stop on Coleshill Road, Birmingham, bundled a man into the back of their car and drove off. The victim was a client of Lee Walker's loan shark business who had fallen behind with payments on a loan. The original loan was for £800, Walker added indiscriminate charges increasing it to £2000.
The Walkers assaulted their victim in the back of the vehicle before driving to his family's home, where they threatened his mother. They then drove to a second location where they attacked their captive with a machete and baseball bat, before letting him go.
Lee Walker charged interest rates of 1500% to 117,000% APR.
(JM)
Lee Reece Walker, of the Glebe, was today sentenced to three and a-half years at Birmingham Crown Court, after he was found guilty in January of kidnap, wounding, assault and blackmail at Birmingham Crown Court.
Following a prosecution by Birmingham City Council's Illegal Money Lending Team, Walker also pleaded guilty to running an illegal money lending business (loan sharking) and 10 counts of counterfeiting.
He was sentenced to three years for kidnap, nine months for assault causing actual bodily harm, 18 months for unlawful wounding and 18 months for blackmail, all to be served concurrently. He was sentenced to six months for illegal money lending, to be served consecutively.
Walker's son, Christopher, earlier found guilty of kidnap and assault, was today sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for kidnap and a concurrent nine-month sentence for assault.
On 31st May 2006 Lee and Christopher Walker pulled up outside a bus stop on Coleshill Road, Birmingham, bundled a man into the back of their car and drove off. The victim was a client of Lee Walker's loan shark business who had fallen behind with payments on a loan. The original loan was for £800, Walker added indiscriminate charges increasing it to £2000.
The Walkers assaulted their victim in the back of the vehicle before driving to his family's home, where they threatened his mother. They then drove to a second location where they attacked their captive with a machete and baseball bat, before letting him go.
Lee Walker charged interest rates of 1500% to 117,000% APR.
(JM)
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10 May 2006
1,000% loan shark sentenced
A Birmingham loan shark who charged more than 1,000% interest on debts has been sentenced to 150 hours community service. Alan McNally operated the unlicensed money lending operation in the Northfield area of Birmingham after poaching his employer's clients whilst working at a finance company.
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A Birmingham loan shark who charged more than 1,000% interest on debts has been sentenced to 150 hours community service. Alan McNally operated the unlicensed money lending operation in the Northfield area of Birmingham after poaching his employer's clients whilst working at a finance company.
13 February 2014
Dave Lee Travis Cleared Of Indecent Assault
Dave Lee Travis has been cleared at his trial for indecent and sexual assault. Earlier on Thursday, the jury in the trial of the former BBC DJ had been instructed that a majority verdict would be accepted. This afternoon, the jury at Southwark Crown Court found the 68-year-old not guilty of 12 counts of indecent assault.
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24 April 2006
Teens in court over park assault
Two teenagers are due to appear in court charged with the alleged assault of a man in a park in Newcastle at the weekend. The 45-year-old man, reported to be an Iranian asylum seeker, was attacked in Walker Park on Friday night. He is still in hospital and is understood to be in a serious condition.
Teens in court over park assault
Two teenagers are due to appear in court charged with the alleged assault of a man in a park in Newcastle at the weekend. The 45-year-old man, reported to be an Iranian asylum seeker, was attacked in Walker Park on Friday night. He is still in hospital and is understood to be in a serious condition.
19 August 2014
Payday Loan Middlemen 'Drain' Money From Customer Accounts - Report
Websites are taking out hundreds of pounds from unknowing customers' accounts, on the promise of finding cheap credit, only for the loans never to materialise.
Payday Loan Middlemen 'Drain' Money From Customer Accounts - Report
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