Increased prison sentence for violent loan shark welcomed

10.17.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Aug 2007

A violent loan shark convicted of attacking a man with a machete had his prison sentence almost doubled on 21 August following an appeal by Birmingham City Council - the first time a council has made such an appeal.

Lee Reece Walker, of the Glebe, Birmingham, was sentenced in April to three and a half years in jail for kidnap, assault, blackmail, counterfeiting and loan sharking, following an investigation by the Council's Illegal Money Lending Team. The Court of Appeal has now increased his sentence to six years and nine months in prison.

Welcoming the outcome, Councillor Neil Eustace (Stechford & Yardley North Ward), Chair of the Public Protection Committee, said: "The punishment should fit the crime and I was disappointed with the initial sentence, considering the violence and intimidation used by Walker."

"The fact that the Court of Appeal has seen fit to increase his prison sentence shows how serious this case is and should send a clear message to anyone who thinks they can threaten people into giving them money."

Related Link:

Illegal Money Lending Team Success.