WIMLU SECURES COMPENSATION FOR VICTIMS FROM LOAN SHARKS’ CRIMES

£30 000 in cash was found stuffed in pillow cases at his home with £61 000 recovered from bank accounts ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A CONVICTED LOAN SHARK – Gareth Jenkins, 63, from 12 Heol Tyddyn, in Caerphilly – has been ordered to pay three victims £66 000 in compensation, with the remaining £25 000 recovered through a POCA Hearing at Cardiff Crown Court today. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Proceeds of Crime Hearing was brought to court by the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit, following a successful prosecution against Jenkins for four offences of loan sharking over a 10 year period. When the unit raided Jenkins’ home, £30K was found stuffed in pillow cases under his bed with £61K recovered from two bank accounts. This hearing follows 15 months imprisonment which Jenkins has served for his crimes. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The £91 073 has to be paid in full in 28 days, or Jenkins will have to serve nine months in prison in default. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Stephen Grey, Investigations Manager for the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit, said: “The Unit is very pleased with this result, as this is the first time we have been able to use seized assets to provide significant sums of money to compensate the victims directly. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“If anyone thinks that a loan shark is operating near them, please call us and we can use this intelligence to investigate. Please call 0300 123 3311 – All calls are confidential.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Notes to Editor ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Gareth Jenkins was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment on June 24 2015 at Newport Crown Court. The following pleas were accepted by the Prosecuting Authority (Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The names of the victims have not been given in this case, to protect their identity. They are referred to as ‘Victim A’, ‘Victim B’ and ‘Victim C. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Engaging in an activity which a licence is required when not a licensee, contrary to section 39(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Between July 11 2004 and 31 March 2014, Gareth Jenkins engaged in an activity for which a licence is required by section 21(1) Consumer Credit Act 1974, namely lending money to Victim A when he did not hold such a licence.
• Engaging in an activity which a licence is required when not a licensee, contrary to section 39(1) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Between March 6 2005 and March 31 2014, Gareth Jenkins engaged in an activity for which a licence is required by section 21(1) Consumer Credit Act 1974, namely lending money to Victim B when he did not hold such a licence.