A loan shark has been told by a court to repay some of his victims or face more time in jail.
Robert Sparey, 55, from Penyrheol, above, was jailed for three-and-a-half years in December last year after admitting a string of offences including illegal money lending.
Operating over a 20-year period, Sparey charged victims £35 interest for every £100 he loaned.
Prosecutors estimated there were 116 victims.
Cardiff Crown Court heard Sparey was claiming benefits while he was conducting his illegal business.
A proceeds of crime hearing at Cardiff Crown Court recently ordered Sparey to pay back £12,310 to a group of 15 of his victims.
He has three months to repay the money or face extra time in jail.
His repayment rates are cheaper than Bright House.
It’s a good idea to make a convicted criminal pay the money back to those he stole from. This seems to be a new idea, let’s hope it catches on. I never received anything for the two burglaries I suffered in the past. The thieves were caught in one instance but had a nice little jail term at tax payers expense. Meanwhile I received nothing, one of the items stolen had great sentimental value as it was a gift from my late mother to mark passing for grammar school. It is probably worth £1,000 these days but the value to me is far higher. Sadly the thieves kept it.
Yes agree, a local scum bag burgled my property stole £100 worth of items but caused £2000 worth of damage…and all he got was a few weeks inside after I discovered evidence he’d left in the house which incriminated him, he was never made to pay back a single penny.
I hope he also had to pay back the benefits he claimed while carrying out his “lending” activities.