Loan sharks 'have no boundaries, they are lethal'

More than one million people in England have used a loan shark

A food bank has raised concerns that vulnerable people using its service are being targeted by loan sharks.

The co-founder of Hebburn Helps in South Tyneside, Angie Comerford, said high levels of poverty were "pushing people" into dangerous situations.

The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT), which can prosecute loan sharks, said people on low incomes could be preyed on by criminals and urged them to report concerns.

One woman who borrowed from loan sharks, who asked to remain anonymous, said they were "lethal".

She said she had needed money to buy Christmas presents for her children but lenders threatened to take her car as payment on interest.

"They turn up at your house, they have no boundaries, they are lethal," she said.

'Awful harassment'

Another woman, also from Tyneside, described turning to loan sharks as the "worst mistake" of her life.

"The harassment and messages I got were awful," she said.

"The percentages go up and up - even if you're an hour late paying, they'd double it.

"It's not just the shark you take on it's the people they had running around for them - it was a very tough time."

Hebburn Helps gives users information about money management services but said some were in "desperate" situations.

Ms Comerford said: "I still feel there's a stigma around loan sharks and people don't talk about it due to fear.

"It's a big concern as people are getting into a rut that they can't get out of."

IMLT said fear, intimidation and control were used by loan sharks to keep people quiet.

Manager Cath Wohlers urged people to report cases to their service.

"I've been in the job 17 years and I've never had anyone say they regretted reporting a loan shark," she said.

"But I hear people say all the time that they wish they'd reported them sooner."