Loan shark who charged 2,437 per cent

Obviously, Mr. Kiely didn't hear about the Bank of England's zero interest rate policy. From the Telegraph....

John Kiely, a loan shark, was branded a "ruthless individual" by a judge in Manchester as he was jailed. Kiely, 36, was sentenced to five years at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for offences including blackmail and illegal money lending.

Judge Adrian Smith told multi-millionaire Kiely: "It's clear to me you are a ruthless individual who has displayed a high degree of criminal sophistication." Kiely charged up to 2,437 per cent interest on loans and used an army of enforcers to collect debts owed by poor families on Manchester housing estates, the jury that convicted him last month heard.

One of his victims, Donna Ockerby, 45, claimed she was left fearing for her life and was forced to move to a secret location to escape him. Kiely was convicted of two counts of blackmail for his actions towards her.

Mrs Ockerby, an auxiliary nurse, borrowed £300 from "Johnny Boy Kiely" to pay for her wedding dress in January 2007 because she was "absolutely desperate", the jury heard. He dispensed the money from a roll of £20 notes from his black Range Rover, complete with the personalised number plate "B0Y".

Mrs Ockerby said she faced aggressive demands for money when she struggled to repay her debt because her working hours were cut. On one occasion Kiely turned up unannounced at her semi-detached house and grabbed hold of her. Another time he turned up and banged on her door early in the morning, the court heard. Mrs Ockerby told the jury she feared for her life when a concrete block was thrown at her window just hours after a debt collector called.