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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