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Birkenhead loan
shark imprisoned
A Birkenhead loan shark has been sentenced to
16 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on Tuesday, 28 August
2012. Gerald Daord, 52 was convicted following a 6 day trial, of 4
counts of illegal money lending and 1 count of money laundering.
Daord was investigated and prosecuted by The England Illegal Money
Lending Team working in partnership with Merseyside Police and
Wirral Council. In August 2011 they executed a warrant at his home
in Hampton Close seizing documentary records of the illegal business
and £1480 in cash. He was subsequently charged with the offences.
Whilst it was impossible to determine the full scale of the business
as records were scarce, three notebooks were seized with records of
46 individuals and amounts, spanning almost four years. These showed
his business to be valued in excess of £82,000.
1 example given was for a £350 loan with a return of £500, this was
calculated to be equivalent to 2752% APR. When questioned about this
Daord told investigators he didn't see this as interest, it was just
like:- "A good drink off them."
On behalf of the prosecution Joe Millington told the court how Daord
had previously been the director of a licensed pawnbrokers company,
but the company was dissolved after failing to give records of its
accounts.
In interview Daord admitted the records found belonged to him and
they he did lend to friends, referring to interest on the loans as
'Gentleman's agreements". No paperwork was ever provided to
borrowers.
Tony Quigley Head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team said:-
"Loan sharks may act like a friend and appear to be doing you a
favour but they are only motivated by their own greed. Loans sharks
like Daord profit illegally at the expense of others. This result
sends a clear message that we are cracking down on this crime, and
that loan sharks will not be tolerated in our communities. We would
urge people to avoid illegal money lenders at all costs, and if you
or anyone you know has fallen into a loan sharks trap please call us
in confidence on:- 0300 555 2222 as we can help."
Cllr Brian Kenny, Wirral Council Cabinet member for Environment,
said:- "Especially at times like these, with money and credit
increasingly difficult to come by, people might be tempted by the
offer of help from someone who seems genuine enough. I'd urge these
people to think long and hard before they accept this kind of loan.
Our commitment to bringing loan sharks to justice is exemplified by
our partnership with the England Illegal Money Lending Team which
has led to this conviction but in an ideal world people like Daord
would have no demand for their services. There is a lot of free help
and advice out there for people who are struggling to manage debt;
one call or visit to a Council One Stop Shop or Citizens' Advice
Bureau would be a good start and there are also some national helplines
which can advise on the best way to address their money worries."
Nationally the Stop Loan Shark Project has secured over 212
prosecutions for illegal money lending and related activity, leading
to 134 years worth of custodial sentences. They have written off
almost £40 million worth of illegal debt and helped over 18,000
victims.
To report a loan shark:-
Call the 24/7 confidential hotline:- 0300 555 2222
Text:- 'loan shark + your message' to:- 60003 |
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Business backs
Merseyside's new technical colleges
MAJOR North West employers have this week come
out in full support of the new University Technical Colleges for
Birkenhead and Liverpool.
The first of the University Technical Colleges (UTCs) will open next
year and businesses believe they will play a key role in
kick-starting the regional economy.
Ian Pollitt of Peel Land & Property said:- "We see big
opportunities and bright futures for local young people trained in
relevant technical skills by the three Merseyside UTCs. The
Liverpool Low Carbon and Super Port UTC, for instance, will attract
and train young people from North Liverpool and further afield at a
time when the Port is expanding and port related companies will be
looking to recruit."
Employers' organisations are equally enthusiastic. Damian Waters,
Director of CBI North West said:- "Business needs the right
skills to support growth and we see University Technical Colleges as
a very welcome step forward in linking education to what employers
really need and developing the right attitudes and aspirations in
young people."
Several major capital projects planned in the region are set to
greatly benefit from the UTCs. For example, construction is
scheduled to start during 2013 on the Ince Resource Recovery Park,
part of the Atlantic Gateway development, which will create new jobs
in construction as well as low carbon technologies. The first
construction phase alone will create 1,698 jobs with 35 Full Time
Equivalent (FTE) apprenticeships, as well as opportunities for 48
NEETs (young people not in employment, education or training).
Covanta Energy, Peel's joint venture partners for Ince and developer
of the Park's Energy-from-Waste facility, has agreed specific key
performance indicators with its main contractor regarding local
employment. There is a target of 70% of contracts on the project
going to local suppliers. In addition, there is a target of 100% for
interviews for Merseyside and Cheshire applicants who meet the
skills requirements for new vacancies. And there will be 150 days
per annum of work placement opportunities throughout the
construction phase.
Malcolm Chilton, Managing Director, Covanta Energy, said:- "We
are determined that Ince Park will be constructed by, and employ,
local people wherever possible. The coming of the UTCs will make it
easier for the smaller companies that will be based at Ince to
recruit and develop trained, young, local candidates."
University Technical Colleges are a new concept in education. They
offer 14 to 19 year olds the opportunity to take a highly regarded,
full time, technically-oriented course of study. They are equipped
to the highest standard, sponsored by a university and offer clear
progression routes into higher education or further learning in
work.
The students combine hand and mind to learn in a very practical way,
integrating national curriculum requirements with the technical and
vocational elements. The UTC ethos and curriculum is heavily
influenced by local and national employers who also provide support
and work experience for students. UTCs do not judge students on
their past performance. Students are given new opportunities and new
ways of learning which allow them to achieve to a higher level than
they may have done before.
Professor Nigel Weatherill, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive,
Liverpool John Moores University, said:- "We are confident
that the University's involvement, alongside that of major
employers, will assist in developing a UTC student experience of the
highest quality, situated in state-of-the-art premises." |
