TWO BROTHERS who lent money to a man before threatening him when he struggled to pay them back have been dealt with in court.

Ferenc Iski, of Bank Road in Connah's Quay, and Istvan Iski, of Dee Road in Connah's Quay, appeared before Mold Crown Court on Tuesday, November 5.

On September 10, Ferenc Iski, 32, pleaded guilty to sending communication with intent to cause distress, while, on February 22, Istvan Iski, 36, pleaded guilty to making threats to kill.

Mark Connor, prosecuting, explained that the offences in question related to the brothers having lent money to Georgian Mecca for a period of four months between 2019 and 2020.

Mr Mecca, who worked with Ferenc Iski at a factory at the time, had borrowed money from the pair to feed a gambling habit.

However, when it got to the point that he could not pay them back, 'serious violence' was threatened, Mr Connor said.

The prosecution said that Mr Mecca was always asked to pay back more than he had borrowed.

On one occasion, he had borrowed £200 and the brothers demanded £400 in return.

Another time, £300 was borrowed, with £1,500 being demanded in return for that loan.

On another occasion, Ferenc Iski met with Mr Mecca outside the Post Office in Connah's Quay, where he received money from the complainant and demanded that he 'surrender his passport', which he did.

The payments were sometimes demanded in cash and, at other times, through bank transfer, but they were all 'unregulated loans', Mr Connor said.

Loans were made on a 'weekly basis', he added.

When Mr Mecca was unable to repay these loans, Istvan Iski threatened him by saying; "I will put your legs in a bag" and "I will find you and then you will die".

Ferenc Iski had also threatened to 'beat him up', but later said in interview that he had 'no intention of actually doing so'.

Mr Mecca said he and his family felt 'intimidated and scared' by the threats made and that he 'feared for his life'.

Oliver King, defending Ferenc Iski, said that this was an offence that was 'out of character and opportunistic' and that the defendant has shown 'genuine remorse and shame'.

Istvan Iski, who represented himself in court, added that he was 'very sorry and remorseful' for what had happened.

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Sentencing the brothers, Judge Rhys Rowlands said: "This was an unsavoury business of lending money to the victim and then resorting to threats when he didn't repay the money on time."

Ferenc Iski was handed a six-month sentence which was suspended for 18 months. He was ordered to pay costs of £1,187.

Istvan Iski was sentenced to 10 months, suspended for 18 months. He will have to pay £337. 

Both defendants will also have to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work.

Restraining orders were also made in respect of both defendants to prohibit them from contacting the victim for a period of three years.