A PROMISING young footballer from Runcorn who owed thousands of pounds to a loan firm hanged himself in despair at his spiralling debts.

Brian Shields, 22, took his own life as he struggled to cope with crippling debts built up as he funded his cocaine habit.

His family have told of his growing desperation faced with 90% interest payments that instantly almost doubled the loans he had taken out.

Falcon Securities director Paul Nicholson, who loaned him the money, accused the family of launching a witch-hunt against him.

Mr Shields, a keen Evertonian, hanged himself with a belt at his Runcorn home in December after becoming addicted to cocaine and borrowing money to pay for the drug.

His family have learned that 26 people were interviewed by detectives in relation to their son's death.

No-one has ever been charged.

His mother, Carol Highton, of Halton Brook, Runcorn, said: 'Brian got himself into something he shouldn't, but the people who prey on young people like him need bringing to justice.

'There are people responsible for his death and they need to be stopped before it happens to somebody else's child.'

Mr Shields borrowed £300 from Falcon Securities Ltd in Widnes last August, signing a form agreeing interest would be set at 90%.

Soon he was falling behind with his repayments, which he had been told to leave in a box at Body FX Gymnasium on High Street, in Runcorn.

Mr Shields borrowed money from the firm on two further occasions, hoping to dig his way out of debt.

Just four months after his initial loan, the young footballer - who had once agreed professional terms with Oldham and Wigan - owed a massive £3,400 with no hope of paying it.

According to Mr Shields's friends and family, he was caught in a vicious cycle, not only owing his loan firm, but also the cocaine dealer who was issuing threats against him.

One debtor told Cheshire police in a statement: 'The threats were coming every week...telling us we had better get his money to him soon, and would refer to getting boys from Liverpool.

'The Liverpool boys were not the type of people to mess around with and would shoot us straight away.'

Mrs Highton said: 'Four days before Brian died, I sat down with him and he told me he'd been threatened by a gang of eight men.

'He seemed scared of something.' She added he was also desperately worried about the rising interest on his Falcon Securities loan.

Mrs Highton said: 'The loan agree-ments are shocking to read. How can they justify charging such outrageous interest?

'They may not have put the noose around his neck but they played a big role in his death.

'I don't want what happened to Brian to be swept under the carpet.'

Mr Shields' mobile phone showed a voicemail message from Falcon Securities on December 2.

His mother found him hanging from a belt from the attic when she arrived home late on December 3.

In a witness statement to Cheshire police, Mr Nicholson of Falcon Securities said: 'The first payment for Shields' loan was expected on December 2, 2005, however I didn't receive a payment.

'I rang Shields' mobile phone number between 20.30 hours and 21.00 hours on December 2 to find out where his payment was. I left him a message on his answerphone..'

At an inquest on Mr Shields, coroner Nicholas Rheinberg recorded a verdict of suicide.

A spokesman for Halton Trading Standards said: 'Falcon Securities Ltd has a licence under the Consumer Credit Act.'

Lender defends high rates  > > >

Lender defends high rates  > > >

FALCON Securities Ltd are registered with Companies House and, until recently, were based at a home in Hale Road in Widnes.

The firm has been running for over three years and is headed by Paul Nicholson.

The firm has two guideline interest rates, 90% and 70%, which vary according to how quickly a person needs the money.

Those who require money within seven days are placed on the 90%, or emergency list. Anyone prepared to wait up to three weeks is charged 70% interest.

Neighbours say Mr Nicholson has now moved from his terraced house in Halebank to a four-acre property in Frodsham.

Mr Nicholson, director of Falcon Securities, denied putting Mr Shields under any pressure.

He said: 'Brian was involved in drugs and got deeper into debt when he should have been trying to get out of debt.

'We are a fully licensed company subject to the Consumer Credit Act.

'Every customer is started off on a high rate as we don't know the person or if they will pay the loan back. It's very sad that he died, but the family have started a witch-hunt against us.'