The case against an alleged loan shark has collapsed after the prosecution offered no evidence this morning.

Cathiresapillai Yogananthan, 52, of Bodley Road, New Malden, was due to face trial at Kingston Crown Court today with illegally lending money and money laundering.

He had denied guilt throughout the investigation by the England Illegal Money Lending team, alongside Kingston Council.

He had been arrested at home in July last year but was cleared by Judge Judith Coello today.

Speaking outside their family home this afternoon Mr Yogananthan declined to give a comment on his acquittal.

But his wife said: "We have been traumatised."

A spokesman for the England Illegal Money Lending Team, based at Birmingham Council, said: "There just wasn't enough evidence to take it any further.

"It is the first time we have come across this when we have got to court and it just hasn't been taken any further."