A loan shark, who was discovered running his illegal business from his Wirral home, was jailed for 16 months today.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that police who raided Gerald Daord's home in February last year found notebooks detailing loans of more than £80,000.

But the judge who sentenced him pointed out that the true scale of the operation was difficult to assess.

Some of the loans ran into thousands of pounds and one for £500 had a repayment figure of £850.

Judge Norman Wright said people seeking such loans are vulnerable and need to be protected. "The message needs to go out to people like yourself who engage in this sort of business that there has to be a deterrent sentence."

He said that the "seed" money for the four year long venture arose from having properties compulsory purchased.

52-year-old Daord, of Hampton Chase, Prenton, had been convicted after a trial of four offences of being an unlicensed money lender and one offence of money laundering.

Police first called in February last year and seized three notebooks which included details of loans and bundles of cash, totalling £2,050.

Daord, who had previously been involved with D & T Pawnbrokers, admitted he knew about the requirements of the Consumer Credit Act.

Officers returned in August and seized a further £1,480 and more paperwork about the illegal business, said Joseph Millington, prosecuting.

After details of his illegal activity were found by police, who raided his home in relation to unrelated matters, the case was passed to the England Money Lending Team.

After the hearing, team head Tony Quigley, said, "Illegal money lenders see themselves as a community service but really all they are doing is profiteering off some of the most vulnerable members of society.

"It really is despicable criminality and they are taking money off those who can least afford it."

Barry Smith, defending, said that there was no evidence that Daord, who claimed he had loaned money to friends without charge, had used violence, threats of violence or harassment.

There was no sign of an extravagant lifestyle, he added.