Edinburgh loan shark who harassed borrower over £18,000 debt ordered to do unpaid work
The 42-year-old plead guilty to illegal money lending earlier this year
A woman from West Pilton who charged 10% interest on an £18,000 loan before using social media to harass and intimidate the borrower has been sentenced to 144 hours of unpaid work.
Methawee Mackay pleaded guilty to illegal money lending at Edinburgh Sheriff court this July after the borrower, an England-based business owner, turned to a team of specialist investigators to look into the loan shark’s activities.
Executing a warrant at her Edinburgh property, the investigators from the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit (SIMLU) found large amounts of cash, jewellery and other evidence linked to illegal money lending.
A loan shark is someone who lends money illegally, often charging high interest rates and using violence or intimidation when demanding repayment.
Sentencing the 52-year-old on Wednesday, Sheriff Fraser said: “I'm imposing a community payback order. I would have ordered you to carry out 180hrs unpaid work but giving your plea that falls and is reduced to 144 hours unpaid work to be carried out within 9 months.”
Mackay still faces a confiscation order hearing later this month to determine whether she benefitted financially from her criminal conduct and needs to repay said gains.
Fiona Richardson, Chief Officer of Trading Standards Scotland commented: “This conviction shows the serious nature of illegal money lending, not just in Scotland, but across the UK.
“The collaboration between both the Scottish Illegal Money Lending Unit and the English Illegal Money Lending Unit shows how we work together to achieve positive outcomes for people who have borrowed from loan sharks.”
SIMLU is part of Trading Standards Scotland and is funded by HM Treasury through a levy on authorised credit businesses.
Alongside supporting victims of illegal money lending, the unit’s investigators pass evidence gathered during their investigations to the Procurator Fiscal, who decides whether to pursue prosecution.
Ms Richardson added: “It is vital that people who have borrowed understand that they are a victim of a crime and that the lender is the person committing the offence.”