British man sets self on fire after failing to pay debts

A British father has set himself on fire after being pursued by loan sharks who threatened him with phone calls and text messages.

 
Bolton coroner's court heard Antony Breeze, 36, had debts amounting to £1,600 and his phone was "ringing day and night" with calls from various debt collectors, loan sharks and pawnbrokers. 

Breeze, who worked for engineering firm Webster Drivers, set himself alight in an alley near his home after receiving the text messages.


He was taken to hospital after being spotted by a neighbor, but died from burns covering 73 percent of his body.

His death has come at a time of criticism of payday loan companies that add interest of up to 200 percent on short term loans. The tide may be turning though, as two payday lenders were forced last week to surrender their trading licenses over bad practices.