A MAN has been charged with illegal money lending following an operation by trading standards officers in Nelson.

Dean Hughes, 46, from Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, was arrested following an operation on March 3.

The England Illegal Money Lending Team, working in partnership with Lancashire County Council Trading Standards and Lancashire Constabulary, executed a warrant in Nelson, seizing documents and a mobile phone.

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Following an initial court hearing Hughes was remanded in custody.

He is committed to appear at Burnley Crown Court on March 26.

Tony Quigley, head of service for Illegal Money Lending Team, said: “The team will continue to work to combat loan sharks. They can cause untold misery to the most disadvantaged in our communities. We would urge anyone with information about loan sharking or victims of loan sharks to contact the team.”

Nationally, the Illegal Money Lending Teams have secured more than 321 prosecutions for illegal money lending and related activity, leading to almost 205 years of custodial sentences.

They have written off £62million worth of illegal debt and helped more than 25,000 victims.