A LOAN shark who made his vulnerable victims’ lives “hell” has been ordered to pay back the £200,000 he gained in repayments.

Kevin Donaghey, of Lickey End in Bromsgrove, must pay the six-figure sum back within three months or face two and half years in prison.

One victim forked out £7,000 in interest over seven months for a loan of just £5,000 – and was forced to give up his passport and driving licence.

Another described his experience as a “living hell” after the loan shark turned up at his place of work shouting and swearing.

Donaghey was ordered to pay back his ill-gotten gains after a hearing at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday, November 17.

He was previously convicted of five counts of illegal money lending in 2014 and sentenced to nine months in custody suspended for two years, as well as 200 hours of unpaid work.

An investigation by the England Illegal Money Lending Team, Worcestershire Regulatory Services and West Mercia Police led to Donaghey’s downfall.

At Tuesday’s hearing Ben Mills, speaking on behalf of the prosecution, told Worcester Crown Court how Donaghey made £200,000 over a period of four and a half years through the illegal money lending business.

His assets consisted of equity in two residential properties, money held in bank accounts and cash seized from him at the time of his arrest.

Donaghey was arrested in October 2013 when officers from the England Illegal Money Lending Team executed a warrant at his home.

The search uncovered notebooks with details of the illegal business and nearly £1,700 in cash.

The documents showed that Donaghey had been running the business since February 2009.

During that time he gave out over five hundred loans advancing more than £170,000 to his customers. This was without the required licence to lend money issued by the Office of Fair Trading.

Councillor Bronwen Behan, chairman of Worcestershire Regulatory Services’ joint committee, said: “We need to protect our residents, particularly those who are vulnerable and this case demonstrates that we will not tolerate loan sharks.”

Tony Quigley, head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team, said: “This sends a clear message that illegal money lending will not be tolerated and that those convicted will have their ill-gotten gains taken away from them.”

He urged anyone who has been the victim of an illegal lender to call the team on 0300 5552222.