at midnight to get £140 of their £141 pension

  • Elizabeth Powell and boyfriend Paul Bow both jailed for 12 months
  • Couple targeted residents struggling to get enough money to buy food
  • Judge described the pair as 'ruthless' in their 'bullying and intimidation'


​A couple who provided cash loans for struggling families and then forced them to pay 5,000 per cent interest has been jailed. Elizabeth Powell and boyfriend Paul Bow targeted residents struggling to get together enough money to buy food. They forced one elderly couple to go to a cashpoint at midnight and told them to draw out £140 of their £141 pension, Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard. Powell, 48, and Bow, 51, admitted illegal money lending over four years and were jailed for 12 months each on Monday. Lee Reynolds, prosecuting, said the pair used a 'cloak of friendship' to persuade a neighbouring family to borrow at extortionate rates.

He said: 'The pair would also keep the bank cards as security. The family was pressured. 'Bow would sell items at inflated costs, for example a packet of cigarettes for £9. At one stage their victims bought a television worth £50 but ended up paying £200.' Sue Ferrier, defending Bow, said: 'He is terrified of going into custody.' John Ryan, defending Powell, asked for a suspended sentence to be imposed because she had not been the 'prime mover'. Judge Richard Twomlow described the couple as 'ruthless' 'You charged extortionate interest and used bullying and intimidating tactics to ensure the cycle of loansharking would continue.'It was a prolonged and calculated offence quite ruthlessly carried out. You exploited vulnerable people through your greed with no regard to them.'.......Read more here