A loan shark was given a two-year jail term suspended for four and fined €5,000 after he was found guilty of extortion and lending money at a high interest rate and without a licence.

Anthony Mercieca, 51, was originally arraigned after Rita Farrugia, who he had lent money to, reported him to the police.

She had told the court she met Mr Mercieca, who was a nursing aid, when her mother, Josephine Saliba, was recovering in hospital. When she was discharged, Ms Farrugia said Mr Mercieca would still visit to treat her mother and it was then that she had told him she needed money. Ms Farrugia said Mr Mercieca offered to lend her the cash, which she accepted.

When he demanded the money back and she could not pay, she continued, he urged her to begin prostituting herself and sent several men to her house. She said she did not accept.

Throughout the court case, Ms Farrugia's husband, Anthony, said Mr Mercieca had sent him a series of text messages insisting on getting the money he was owed.

When Mr Mercieca was first arrested, the police found notebooks in his home and car, similar to those they received from Ms Farrugia and which suggested money lending. When they questioned him, he admitted he had lent money to the woman and her mother but denied he had done so to others as well.

Inspector Maurice Curmi prosecuted.

Lawyer Kenneth Cutajar appeared for Mr Mercieca.