Just when you think human beings must have a shred of humanity in them. You are of course proven wrong.

Loan shark who raped an impoverished customer and threatened to petrol-bomb another woman’s house has been jailed for seven years.

Paul Nicholson, 39, squeezed hundreds of thousands of pounds from working-class families.

If repayments were overdue he demanded his money by threatening debtors with the baseball bat, machete and knuckle dusters he owned.

Warrington Crown Court has heard that Nicholson, who lived in a £1 million house next to a golf course in Delamere, Cheshire, forced one woman who owed him money to perform a sex act.

He told one debtor: “Your priority is to pay me, not feed your kids.”

The former nightclub doorman was convicted last month of 18 charges which included rape, 12 counts of blackmail, lying about his criminal record, operating without a licence and assault.

His girlfriend, mother-of-one Tracey Rogers, 38, helped run his “wicked” empire from their home and she was convicted of blackmail, operating without a licence and acquiring criminal property.

The couple targeted more than 800 poor people across Widnes and Runcorn in Cheshire, charging up to 150 per cent interest on loans.

This is a very scary story. Thank goodness that this man is behind bars. How can anyone rape someone for being in debt? Very shocking.