Sandwell Homes has teamed up with Sandwell Council, 6Towns Credit Union, Citizens Advice Bureau and Trading Standards’ illegal money lending team to develop the campaign, which will also include a series of awareness raising events in local supermarkets and neighbourhood offices.

Sandwell Homes Chief Executive, Paul Field, helped to launch the campaign at an event in Queens Square, West Bromwich, where officers shared case studies with members of the public.

He said: “Loan sharks prey on the poorest people, offering easy money at extortionate rates of interest to trap them into a cycle of debt. It’s important for people to recognise that loan sharking is a real problem in Sandwell, as it is nationally, and for organisations like ours and its partners to be making people aware of the risks.”

Sandwell is covered by the Central England Trading Standards Authorities illegal money lending team, part of the ‘Stop Loan Sharks Project’. There will soon be national teams that cover all of England, Scotland and Wales.

Tony Quigley, head of the illegal money lending team, said: “Illegal lenders have a hugely detrimental impact on our communities, trapping people in spiralling debt and forcing people to live in fear. We are pleased to be working with Sandwell Homes to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal lending, and show people that these criminals can be stopped.”

Nationally, the ‘Stop Loan Sharks’ project has written off more than £37 million of illegal debt, helped more than 16,000 victims and secured more than 107 years in prison sentences. Over £20 million of assets are currently being investigated with the intention of removing these from illegal lenders.

Sandwell Homes is encouraging residents to report loan shark activity to the illegal money lending team in confidence on 0300 555 2222.

He also had his existing injunction order extended for a further five years.

Last year, Sandwell Council's anti-social behaviour team, supported by Sandwell Police and Sandwell Homes, secured a two-year injunction order against Mr Johnson at the Dudley County Court. This followed Mr Johnson harassing a family for a number of years, culminating in threatening to burn their house down.

The order banned him from causing a nuisance or annoyance to anyone in the Lightfields Walk neighbourhood and being threatening or abusive towards named residents.

Police arrested 53-year-old Mr Johnson last week (14 February) for breaching his order. He had threatened the same residents from the initial case and then, while being questioned by police, he again made threats towards the family.

The next day (15 February), the police and council anti-social behaviour team took Mr Johnson back to Dudley County Court, where he pleaded guilty to two breaches of the order. A breach of an injunction order is contempt of court.

The following day (16 February), the court sentenced him to four months imprisonment for the breaches of the injunction and extended his injunction order for a further five years, to run until 16 February 2016.

A two-month suspended committal order made in August 2010 was also activated as a result of the latest threats, therefore totalling six months' imprisonment. The suspended committal order was also made due to Mr Johnson verbally abusing the same family and making threats towards them.

Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for safer neighbourhoods, said: "Mr Johnson clearly breached his injunction order by being abusive and threatening towards residents from the original case.

"This demonstrates that action is taken when anti-social behaviour injunction orders are breached - and the court's sentence sends out a strong message that breaches will be dealt with firmly by the courts."

Acting Sergeant Gurpreet Gill, of Sandwell Police, said: "This is a good result for the local community, giving law-abiding residents instant relief from Mr Johnson's behaviour and threats while also extending the injunction to help protect them over the next five years."

Working in partnership with Sandwell Council, 6Towns Credit Union, Citizens Advice Bureau and Trading Standards’ illegal money lending team, Sandwell Homes is running the sessions as part of a campaign to warn residents about the dangers of using loan sharks.

Cllr Simon Hackett, cabinet member for Sandwell Council, said: “I would encourage anybody to go and take advantage of the free advice being offered at these sessions.

“We believe it is important to offer residents as much support as we can give them with managing their finances, particularly in the current economic climate.”

Sessions will be held at the following destinations this week:

Tues 8th Mar, 9.30am-12.30pm – Oldbury Housing Service Centre, Freeth Street
Wed 9th Mar, 9.30am-12.30pm – Smethwick Housing Service Centre, Ford Street
Thurs 10th Mar, 9.30am-12.30pm – Asda Supermarket, Windmill Lane, Smethwick

Sandwell Homes is encouraging residents to report loan shark activity to Trading Standard’s illegal money lending team in confidence on 0300 555 2222.

The standard, which is now secure for another three years, will continue to help the company evolve through the way it develops and manages people.

Chief Executive, Paul Field, said: "This is another great achievement for the company and provides a base on which to improve as an organisation.

"Everybody here at Sandwell Homes has an important contribution to make towards the company’s continued success."

Troublemakers visiting the council-owned property in Bilhay Lane had caused nuisance and spread fear to elderly and disabled neighbours.

Residents had complained of a catalogue of problems, including loud music, shouting and fighting late into the evening, windows being smashed, verbal abuse and other threatening behaviour.

Councillor Derek Rowley, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for safer neighbourhoods, visited Bilhay Lane this morning (Tuesday 1 February) together with West Bromwich police inspector Gill Munslow, council anti-social behaviour team manager Lee Cook and Sandwell Homes' anti-social behaviour team prevention officer Mick Salmon.

Councillor Rowley said: "It was very reassuring to find Bilhay Lane quiet and peaceful this morning following the closure order.

"The level of extreme anti-social behaviour happening at this property, particularly in recent weeks, forced us to apply to close down the flat, to give instant relief to the local community.

"And the news that the tenant has now handed back the keys is added reassurance to local residents that their nightmare is now at an end.

"It will also save the council having to apply for a possession order through the courts to evict the tenant, which can take time."

Sandwell Council's anti-social behaviour team, working with Sandwell Police and Sandwell Homes, secured the premises closure order at Warley Magistrates Court last Wednesday (26 January).

In court, Mr Ebanks, aged 48, accepted the order.

This is the first premises closure order to be granted in the Black Country under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.

The flat is now fully secured and Sandwell Homes will be working to re-let it at the earliest opportunity.

Adrian Scarrott, Sandwell Homes director of housing, said: "The vast majority of council tenants are law-abiding and do not allow their homes to become centres of anti-social behaviour.

"Where problems do occur, such as in this case, we will not hesitate to work with our partners to take firm action for the safety and peace of the local community."