STANDING in the doorway of her home, mum-of-four Sarah Smith made up desperate excuses to turn away a man standing on her front steps.
A former family friend who loaned her and husband Anthony cash for Christmas turned into a sex-crazed greengrocer who offered her an “easy” way out of debt.
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Evil usurers force debtors to have sexCredit: Shutterstock
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Bullies intimidate victims with violenceCredit: Shutterstock
“Put on some sexy underwear and we can make a deal,” he told her.
Sarah, who refused outright, is one of thousands of women across the country targeted by twisted, callous lenders who push some victims to the brink of suicide.
Frightened debtors told shocking stories of exploitation, violence and blackmail.
One shark even offered to send a group of men to a woman’s house to have sex “while the kids are at school.”
Our exclusive statistics reveal that almost one in ten loan borrowers have been asked to settle their debt through sex.
This is the first time England’s Moneylending Squad, a group of specialist investigators and officers, has recorded such figures.
Sarah and Anthony, 39, who live in the West Midlands, borrowed around £10,000 over 15 years but were unable to pay when they were hit by Covid and had health problems.
Anthony, who was paying 70 per cent interest on the loan, said: “Then the shark started pressuring me and started intimidating me, making comments to my wife in front of our 14-year-old daughter.
“He asked my wife to wear sexy bras and pants and things like that.
“We heard from other people that he was trying to convince them that they would pay him some money if they gave him sexual services.”
Sleazy moneylenders ‘pimp’ desperate mums by ordering them to have sex in order to pay off their debts
‘Prostitution seemed to be the only way out’
The Sun can today reveal the terror Britain’s loan sharks hold over families of no means — many struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
Almost half of those targeted are employed, but are being hit hard by rising food and energy bills.
Carer Paula, 28, from Leeds, said the shark pestered her for sex before suggesting she become a prostitute to pay off his debt.
A friend from work introduced her to the lender and she borrowed £100.
Paula faced what is known as a “double bubble” interest rate, where the amount owed doubles every week.
It tripled the next week if she didn’t pay.
Soon she was £3,000 in debt.
She said: “The lender contacted my parents telling them I owed money.
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Loan shark Richard Dawson boots victim on CCTVCredit: SWNS
“He came to my workplace to intimidate me. I closed my Facebook account for fear of what he might post on it. I felt trapped.
“He harassed me for sex and I was told to become a prostitute to pay off what I owed.
“I could never do it, but at one point it seemed like it might be the only way out.
“It was more the nagging for sex that was so overwhelming.”
Paula’s nightmare only ended when she was contacted by the Money Laundering Team who were already investigating the man.
Jane, a mother of three who borrowed from someone she knew at work, was left petrified when she changed her phone number and the lender threatened to kill her.
Lihtar contacted my family to force me to return and said he would kill me. I went to the bridge and was going to jump off it. The only thing stopping me was the thought of my children
Jane from South London
The 52-year-old, from south London, revealed: “They contacted family members to get them to pay me back and said they were going to kill me.
“I was going to the bridge and I was going to jump off it because of the threats. Only the thought of my children prevented me from doing so.”
Delivery driver Sunny, 26, from Devon, found the illegal payday lender online after becoming so financially strapped that he ran out of food for his children to eat.
He said: “On paper my income looks great, but in reality we were constantly playing catch-up and paying it off.”
All of these victims, who told their stories to IMLT, were too scared to reveal their true identities to The Sun for fear of reprisals.
An estimated 1 million borrowers owe money to loan sharks, according to a report released by the Center for Social Justice.
This figure has more than tripled since 2010.
New IMLT statistics reveal that 31 per cent of borrowers have considered or attempted suicide, while three in ten have been threatened or attacked by lenders.
IMLT expert Catherine Wohlers said: “Nine per cent of women borrowers we helped last year were told they could settle their debt with sex.
“Some suggestions are quite explicit and direct, but others are less so, like, ‘It would be nice if you could wear something nice when I get back.’
“One woman was told, ‘If I send some men while the children are at school who can settle your debt’.”
Catherine says almost half of those who take out loan sharks have low incomes or families in financial crisis.
She added: “We’ve seen a change in the reasons why people use them.
“Many now borrow for food and fuel, although historically this would have been for one-off expenses such as a new car tyre, school uniform or for Christmas. It is a myth that everyone who borrows has benefits. More than 40 percent are working, some in low-paying jobs, or their circumstances have changed due to a relationship breakup, bereavement or business collapse.
‘I’m angry that they made me feel like a fool’
“The youngest borrower we helped last year was 19, and the oldest was 91 years old. The largest amount borrowed was £99,000 and the person in question paid back £450,000 over 25 years.
“Half of the borrowers were left without food, fuel or without a priority payment to pay their loan.”
The figures also show that eight percent of moneylenders were found on social media, twice as many as in 2022.
The revelations come after one of Britain’s most violent loan sharks was jailed for seven years this month for kidnapping, GBH and illegal moneylending.
Richard Dawson, 35, from Barnsley, stuffed his victim into the boot of his car and drove her to an ATM to pay.
Sheffield Crown Court heard how vicious, tattooed Dawson collected £52,000 from 88 “customers”.
He once broke the jaw of a man who couldn’t pay.
His lawyer, Sean Fritchley, said Dawson’s actions sounded “like something out of The Sopranos” but that his client was “ashamed”.
Magistrates have also jailed a number of retired moneylenders – including the country’s oldest at 83.
Two Filipino hospital workers preyed on fellow immigrants, lending them £4.2 million over a 16-year period.
Luz Guerra Villar (67) and Leticia Manipol (71) were sentenced to suspended prison terms in 2021 after admitting to illegal lending and money laundering.
A court in south London last month ordered them to pay back £1.2m.
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Wicked Richard was jailed for seven years for his crimes Credit: MEN Media
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Gangster great-grandmother Tabitha Richardson loaned neighbors and ‘friends’ £120,000 over 20 years Credit: WNS
This is the largest amount seized in 14 years.
Gangster great-grandmother Tabitha Richardson loaned neighbors and “friends” £120,000 over 20 years.
The 83-year-old, from Newport, South Wales, was described as “menacing and threatening” as he charged 40 per cent interest on six-month loans.
In August last year, she was given a suspended sentence of two years in prison after admitting to her illegal business.
Last month she was ordered to pay back £173,000.
Tony Quigley, head of IMLT, said: “Illegal moneylenders often live a life of luxury while people who have borrowed from them struggle.
“It is only right that these criminals are not only prosecuted, but finally made to return at least some of their ill-gotten gains.”
Sarah and husband Anthony are now coming back to life.
He said: “It still makes me angry because they made me feel like a fool.
“To find out later that there were so many other people he was making money from makes me very angry.
“It’s disgusting that it hangs over your head. It’s like you’re stuck in an endless hell hole.”
- To report a loan shark call 0300 555 2222 or go to stoploansharks.co.uk.
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Many targets have been hit hard by rising food and energy bills. Credit: Getty
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