LOAN sharks who prey on vulnerable people should pay compensation to their victims.

They manipulate and intimidate the most vulnerable in society, destroying lives by charging 4,000 per cent interest.

Canadian-born Paul Brown, from Bishop Auckland, lent money to people at interest rates of up to 14,000 per cent (Echo, Feb 14). He ran a large-scale illegal money lending operation and benefited from his criminal activities by £104,000. He was also involved in illegal cigarettes and a counterfeit goods racket.

He was jailed for 18 months in 2011.

His daughter, Jennifer Brown, also from Bishop Auckland, was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Properties belonging to the pair, including a house valued at £50,000 in Spennymoor belonging to Jennifer Brown will be sold to help pay back £100,000 her father owes and the £20,746 she benefited from her father’s illegal activities.

The now-disbanded North-East Illegal Money Lending Team helped Durham Police catch the Brown family.

Sadly, loan sharks are making a comeback in North-East communities. These illegal activities must be stopped.

Anyone can report suspected loan sharks anonymously to the national Illegal Money Lending Team.

Alistair Rutter, Bishop Auckland.