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Families facing up to the spiralling cost of living are being targeted by predatory loan sharks who pose as friends and even using social media influencers to trap new victims.

It is estimated more than a million people are in debt to illegal money lenders, a number that has trebled in the past decade.

Investigators are concerned that the rising cost of living will push people who would not normally seek an underground loan to do just that.

Tony Quigley, head of England Illegal Money Lending Team, said: “One of the things we’re fearful of obviously is with the current situation around energy prices and inflation is that more people will be tempted to use this type of lender.”

Illegal lenders are increasingly operating on social media to entice and then exploit victims, sending threatening messages and shaming and manipulating them on group chats.

One convicted loan shark used an influencer to attract victims.

Loan sharks are also snaring victims by posing as friends who simply want to help out with cash loans before ramping up extortionate and arbitrary interest rates.

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£50 loan that spiralled to thousands

One woman, a mother of three, was offered a £50 loan by a woman she met at the school gate.

The debt quickly spiralled and she ended up paying thousands in cash with no records kept.

“I was stressed over the repayments,” she said. “I knew I had to pay her back because I have seen what she had done to other people if they didn’t pay her back. She made it her business to know exactly what money went into my bank.

“I got to the point of wanting to end everything. I was very suicidal and didn’t know who to go to. There were threats on my life and on my home. I had windows put in and I would get messages off people bullying me because she had sent them to my door, she even used local youths in the area as a campaign of terror.”

A suspected loan shark is arrested
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A suspected loan shark is arrested

‘Likely an illegal lender is someone you know’

The woman’s experience matches what was found in a study by the Centre for Social Justice, a think tank.

Matthew Greenwood, its head of debt, said: “I think the most startling thing that we uncovered was that over half of people who borrow from an illegal lender said that they perceived this person to be their friend when they first borrowed.

“There’s a sort of perception that every illegal lender is someone in a hoodie in a dark alley and while those people certainly do exist, it’s far more likely that an illegal lender is someone you know, rather than someone you’ve met for the first time.”

The study found that most victims have an income below £20,000, two-thirds already owe money to legal creditors, three-quarters are on benefits and two-thirds have a long-term health condition.

Tony Quigley, head of England’s Illegal Money Lending Team
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Tony Quigley said his team has seen ‘some horrendous things’

‘Pay me, don’t feed your children’

Experts say the crime is so widespread and hidden that victims are too scared or ashamed to report their experiences. The large sums of money and extortionate rates of interest take a psychological toll, leaving victims feeling trapped and helpless.

“We’ve seen some horrendous things that people have been subjected to,” Mr Quigley said. “We’ve had instances in the past where the loan shark has said to individuals: ‘Pay me, don’t feed your children.’

“We’ve also seen illegal lenders who have said they’ll send men round and they can pay the debt off through sexual favours so it is just hideous.”

The England Illegal Money Lending team, which was set up in 2004 and runs the Stop Loan Sharks helpline, is a specialist team of law enforcement officers combatting illegal lending and associated crime.

It has prosecuted more than 400 cases and written off £90m in illegal debt.

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Man arrested over death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey

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Man arrested over death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey

A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the death of Gogglebox star George Gilbey.

Essex Police say Gilbey, 40, is thought to have died after a fall at work.

He was best known for appearing on the Channel 4 show alongside his mother Linda McGarry and stepfather Pete McGarry, who died in 2021 aged 71.

George Gilbey. Pic: Shutterstock
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George Gilbey. Pic: Shutterstock

The reality star also appeared on the 14th series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2014, reaching the final.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “As part of our ongoing investigation into the death of a man in Campfield Road, Shoebury, we have arrested a man in their 40s from the Witham area on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

“This is a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive and our inquiries are ongoing.”

Essex Police previously said they were called to an incident in Shoebury, Southend-on-Sea at around 10am on Wednesday.

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A spokesperson for the force said yesterday that “a man who was working at height had fallen and sustained an injury”.

“The ambulance service, including air ambulance, were in attendance. Sadly, the man died at the scene.”

Gilbey, from Essex, joined Gogglebox in its second series in 2013 before he and his family were dropped the following year when he signed up for Celebrity Big Brother. The family later returned to the series.

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A spokesperson for the award-winning programme said: “George was part of the Gogglebox family for eight series alongside his mum Linda and stepdad Pete.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Linda and George’s family and friends at this very sad time. The family has asked for privacy.”

Gilbey appeared on the Channel 5 version of Celebrity Big Brother alongside other famous faces including The Hills star Stephanie Pratt and American actor Gary Busey, who won the series.

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Hundreds of Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport to strike in April

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Hundreds of Border Force staff at Heathrow Airport to strike in April

More than 600 Border Force officials at Heathrow Airport will strike for four days in April.

The strike action will take place from 11-14 April, the PCS union announced.

The workers, who carry out immigration controls and passport checks at Heathrow, voted by 90% to walk out over a new roster and imposed changes to shift patterns.

The union said the changes could see 250 staff at the west London airport forced to lose their jobs by the end of next month.

Fran Heathcote, general secretary of PCS, said: “Ministers have 14 days to withdraw these unfair and unnecessary proposals or our members at Heathrow will take strike action.

“Consultation with staff has been a farce, with our members having little or no choice about the new arrangements.”

Read more from Sky News:
Disgraced ‘crypto king’ jailed for 25 years
Man arrested over Gogglebox star’s death

She added: “Ripping up flexible working arrangements is no way to treat staff especially, as the government says, their work is critical to our nation’s security.

“Some members are heartbroken that the Border Force has become ‘unprofessional and inhumane’.

“If the government is serious about border security, it should look at Border Force officers’ job security, look after its staff, scrap the changes and work with us to protect jobs and working conditions.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We are disappointed with the union’s decision to strike.

“Keeping our borders secure remains our top priority. We have robust plans in place to avoid disruption, and will deploy necessary personnel to meet demand on what we have long known will be one of the busiest travel days. We are confident in our plans to minimise the impact of this industrial action.

“We always recommend that passengers check the latest advice from their operators before travelling.”

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King delivers personal Easter message following cancer diagnosis

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King delivers personal Easter message following cancer diagnosis

The King has said he is continuing to serve the nation with “my whole heart” in a personal Easter message in the wake of his and the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnoses.

The pre-recorded audio was broadcast in his absence at a Royal Maundy service at Worcester Cathedral on Thursday ahead of the Easter weekend.

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The King’s message was broadcast to a congregation at Worcester Cathedral. Pic: BBC/Sky/ITV News

The King, who announced in February he was undergoing cancer treatment, talked of his “special prayer” this Easter and expressed his “great sadness” of being unable to attend.

“The Maundy service has a very special place in my heart,” he said, after a Bible reading recounting Jesus washing his disciples’ feet.

He said the verse, from the Gospel according to St John, “has its origin in the life of our Lord, who knelt before his disciples, and to their great surprise, washed their trouble-weary feet”.

The monarch said in doing so, Jesus set “an example of how we should serve and care for each other” – and how as a nation “we need and benefit greatly from those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need”.

Read more:
What is Maundy Thursday?
Queen discusses what King is like as a patient
King ‘frustrated’ about speed of cancer recovery

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King Charles III reads cards and messages, sent by wellwishers following his cancer diagnosis.
Pic:PA
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The King reads cards and messages from well-wishers following his cancer diagnosis. Pic: PA

The 75-year-old, who acceded to the throne 18 months ago, said it reminded him of the pledge he made at the start of his Coronation service to follow Christ’s example – “not to be served, but to serve”.

“That I have always tried to do and continue to do with my whole heart,” he said.

“It is my special prayer today that our Lord’s example of serving one another might continue to inspire us and to strengthen all our communities.”

He added: “May God bless you all this Easter.”

The monarch – who has stepped back from large-scale public duties while receiving outpatient treatment – was pictured sitting at his desk in Buckingham Palace’s 18th Century Room as he recorded his message in mid-March.

While the King did not directly refer to his and his daughter-in-law’s health, his words will be interpreted as reflecting on the nation’s response to his and Kate’s challenges.

He told last month how he had been reduced to tears by the messages and cards of support he received from well-wishers.

Yesterday, the Queen, during a visit to Shropshire, was given posters from well-wishers for the Princess of Wales, and said Kate “will be thrilled” to receive them.

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Queen thanks young Kate well-wishers

His message comes as he prepares to attend church on Easter Sunday with Camilla – his most significant public appearance and major royal engagement since his cancer diagnosis.

But there will be a reduced number of royals present to avoid the health risks associated with large crowds.

Prince William, the Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will not be present.

The family are spending the Easter holidays together following Kate’s announcement she is being treated for cancer.

Kate revealed she is undergoing preventative chemotherapy in a video message to the nation on Friday.

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Kate’s message: Diagnosis ‘came as huge shock’

The statement followed weeks of global social media speculation and conspiracy theories about her whereabouts after she had not been seen on official engagements since last December.

The 42-year-old had planned abdominal surgery in January which she said was successful.

It was initially thought her condition was non-cancerous, but tests after the operation found cancer had been present.

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