A loan shark who charged members of his own family 400,000% interest has been jailed today, Friday December 18.
Chris Harvey, a father-of-21 children by nine different woman, described himself as the “patriarch of the family” and preyed on vulnerable relatives by seizing their benefit money and lending it back to them.
Harvey, 53, charged vulnerable relatives up to 400,000% on loans leaving them without food and hot water.
Prosecutor Timothy Evans said: “It was deliberate and sustained abuse of vulnerable members of his own family.
“He acted in a truly predatory way and was seen by these people as a friend.
“He took control of post office and bank cards and helped himself to more than £22,000 of their own money – giving the victims smaller amounts to live on.”
Harvey, of Hengoed, was jailed for three years and four months after admitting a string of offences.
A court heard he spent ten years taking benefits from eight “disadvantaged” family members and friends.
Cardiff Crown Court heard he took benefits from brother Steven Harvey, 51, and then loaned him his money back.
Mr Evans told the court: “He would charge his brother £20 for a £10 loan – saying he owed him £5 in interest and £5 for the petrol he needed to pick up money from the bank.
“Steven had to ask him for £300 to buy Christmas presents for his own children.
“He and his wife were given £20 from Christopher a fortnight.”
The court was told that Harvey took out a serious of payday loans in the name of Katie Moore, 29, who was a former girlfriend of his nephew.
Miss Moore felt “scared and confused” after being bombarded with letters from debt collectors when Harvey opened the accounts.
An investigation by the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit discovered that the loan shark had stolen £22,875.39 in benefit money.
When interviewed by police brazen Harvey told officers that “he was the patriarch of the family” who was carrying on what his father taught him.
Defence barrister David Pinnell said: “He said he is the patriarch of the family and his actions were not unusual in these close-knit family structures.
“He learnt these practices when sitting on his father’s knee.
“He is a family man and lives with his wife Sharon and three sons who are dependant on him.”
The court was told that Harvey has been unemployed for the last 16 years and claims Disability Support Allowance for epilepsy, diabetes, asthma and depression. The experienced fraudster gave police a false age in a bid to prevent them from discovering his 14 previous convictions.
Harvey pleaded guilty to four charges of fraud, three charges of theft and two charges of unlicensed money lending.
Jailing him for three years and four months, Judge Michael Fitton QC said: “You have an arrogant and controlling personality.
“You spoke about these adults being fragile and vulnerable and what you have done is exploited them.
“You paid them peanuts from their state benefits to which they were entitled to.
“You gave them the absolute minimum you could for them to survive.”
Stephen Gray, Investigations Manager for the Wales Illegal Money Lending Unit said: “This is a particularly nasty case, where a loan shark preyed on eight different victims over a ten-year period.
“The victims are very vulnerable suffering from mental and physical impairments.
“The unit has been working closely with the victims, giving them the help and support they deserve to ensure they can start to rebuild their lives.”
I feel sorry for this guy having to support 21 children, silly old me i forgot its us the tax payer who picks up the bill once again,his defence lawyer stated what he done was normal in a large, famil sorry sir this is not normal, his lawyer needs to live in the real world, T Smith.