A LOAN shark threatened and intimidated vulnerable people in a desperate effort to get his hands on a top of the range car through their mobility benefit scheme.

Karl Marron bled one couple dry and left them in ‘Dickensian penury’ after he forced them to hand over all of their benefits when he moved into their North East home against the couple’s wishes.

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The burly 33-year-old initially loaned them a small sum of money before he fleeced them out of £4,500 over a five-month period as he ‘crushed their spirits’.

Teesside Crown Court that the woman initially borrowed £20 from Marron - who also calls himself Carlos Rothschild – before he ingratiated himself into their lives and left them devastated by his blackmail.

Glenn Gatland, prosecuting, said that Marron accused the couple of wasting his time when they failed to supply him with a Mercedes coupe and told them they owed him £2,750 because of that.

The prosecution said the bully then turned his attention to two other victims after the couple failed to get him the CLA 200 AMG Mercedes coupe, in black, with leather seats.

Marron forced the next man to pay him £1,700 after he paid a deposit for the car after started to threaten the victim after he borrowed a small amount of money.

When the victim couldn't pay, Marron tried to force him to get the Mercedes for him using his Motability scheme entitlement and went as far as paying a deposit for the car.

Marron then turned his attention to blackmailing a friend of his second victim - a third man - for money. The man initially borrowed £20 and ended up with a bill for £480.

Dealing with the impact on the first two victims, Mr Gatland said: “They were left destitute and she resorted to begging and it also put their tenancy at risk.”

The legal counsel said Marron had ‘bled them dry’ and left them living in ‘Dickensian penury’.

Another one of Marron’s victims was left feeling suicidal as a result of his threats and intimidation, he added.

Marron’s first trial was abandoned in February last year when one of the blackmail victims received a text message questioning their evidence.

The court heard that the message was sent on his behalf by his partner, Katrina Allnatt, from the Reading area where she was living at the time.

Allnatt, of Cliffland Way, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

Marron, who gave his address as HMP Durham, was found guilty of four charges of blackmail from June-October 2019 and conspiring to pervert the course of justice following a second trial. He also pleaded guilty to possession of a class C drug.

Michael Shilliday, in mitigation for Marron, said his client had a difficult upbringing and was looking at becoming involved in charity work to help young people who find themselves in a similar position as he did as a child.

Judge Chris Smith sentenced him to eight years and six months in prison for ‘bleeding their accounts dry’ over a four-month period.

“You did not have the courage to admit what you were doing, you showed not a shred of remorse for what you did,” he said.

“Instead, you painted yourself as the victim, you tried to turn the tables on your vulnerable prey, you attempted to hoodwink the jury with fake tears and wholly dishonest claims of distress.

“You are in my judgement, a cruel and callous man who seeks to corrupt others and who exploits the weakness of others in order to satisfy your own selfish needs.”

Marron was also issued with indefinite restraining orders to protect his four victims.

“You victims were left in misery and in fear,” the judge added. “Each of these offences of blackmail represents the cold-hearted and ruthless exploitation of vulnerable people.”

Allnatt was sentenced to 11 months in custody, suspended for 18 months after admitting perverting the course of justice. She was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Brian Kennedy, in mitigation for the 44-year-old, said his client was ‘put up to it’ by Marron.

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