Other News In Brief

OFT Shuts Down Payday Loan Firm Over Fraud

Payday lender MCO Capital has been shut down by the Office of Fair Trading, after it failed to stop fraudsters taking out loans using more than 7,000 stolen identities.

The regulator, which stripped the online lender of its consumer credit licence in summer 2012, has now banned it from making loans to UK consumers after finding that the company lacked the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to run a consumer credit business.

In August 2012, the OFT took action to revoke MCO's licence, but the company, which operated as Paycheckcredit, Popcredit and Speedcredit, charged interest rates of more than 5,000% APR, was still allowed to trade as it launched an appeal.

The closure of the company comes after it decided to withdraw that appeal. However, it is sill appealing the OFT's decision to fine it £544,505 for breaches of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007.

Roache Apologies For Abuse Comments

Coronation Street star William Roache has apologised for comments he made on a New Zealand talk show, which appeared to suggest victims of sexual abuse are paying for their behaviour in "previous lives".

He made the comments during an interview with New Zealand's TVNZ.

During the interview, in which he discussed recent sex abuse scandals, Roache said: "If you accept that you are pure love, and if you know that you are pure love and therefore live that pure love, these things won't happen to you."

Interviewer Garth Bray replied: "To some people that sounds perhaps like you're saying victims bring things on themselves - is that what you're saying?"

Roache replied: "No, not quite.. and yet I am, because everything that happens to us has been a result of what we have been in previous lives or whatever."

In a statement apologising Roache said: "I would like to say that I am very sorry for any offence that has been caused as a result of my comments."

The NSPCC said his original "bizarre comments" were "not helpful."

Stone Had No Idea Of Alleged Murder Plot

A court has heard that singer Joss Stone only became aware of an alleged plot to kill her when police called to her house, following the arrest of two men.

Junior Bradshaw, 32, and Kevin Liverpool, 35, were arrested a few miles from her Devon home in June 2011.

Miss Stone told Exeter Crown Court: "Apart from someone [police] coming around to say someone is trying to kill me, it was a really nice day."

The pair, both of St Stephens Close, Manchester, were arrested in Cullompton, and weapons were found in their car, including a samurai sword, a lock knife and a hammer, the court heard.

Alarm not on

Notes suggesting they intended to decapitate the pop star before dumping her body in a river were also found, prosecutors said.

The men deny conspiracy to murder, rob and cause grievous bodily harm.

(H)