A BLACKMAIL trial ground to a dramatic halt yesteday, when four of the accused had all charges against them dropped.

Brothers Johnathan and Timothy Bowen, both of Hendrefoilan Road, Killay, their mother Gaynor Bowen, of Gower Road, Killay, and Glyn Stock, of Killan Road, Dunvant were discharged from Swansea Crown Court. Evidence was heard from just one witness, Abdul Hafeez, and all six defendants had denied the offences of blackmail and unlawful debt collection.

Last week, barrister Susan Ferrier, opening the trial, said it was the prosecution's case that David Bowen, the estranged husband of Gaynor, was loaning people money and charging "extortionate" interest.

But yesterday the jury were also discharged after David Bowen's daughter Sally Morris, aged 35, of Killan Road, Dunvant, changed her plea to guilty on three counts of unlawful debt collection in relation to victims Ishtiaq Sheikh, Numan Ali and Usman Hafeez.

Richard Rowe, aged 37, of Priors Way, Dunvant, denied an additional count of affray on July 28, 2008, but admitted an alternative charge of public order offence.

Judge Peter Heywood said given "the way the evidence [in the trial] was emerging", the outcome was a "sensible resolution".

In an earlier hearing, Miss Ferrier said David Bowen was unfit to stand trial due to ill health.

It was alleged the victims in the case were from Swansea's Asian restaurant community and "loan shark" David Bowen when chasing repayments threatened to kill one man and break another's children's legs.

But the trial collapsed following less than two days worth of evidence from key witness Mr Hafeez.

During cross-examination Mr Hafeez had dismissed claims that he was "pulling in the troops", and "rounding up witnesses" to help support his case.

Miss Ferrier, put to him that he had been "nobbling" witnesses.

Mr Hafeez rejected the claim, but admitted putting the investigating officer in touch with four witnesses and being present when she interviewed them.

John Hipkin, defending Morris, said: "This defendant, as it now stands, was involved in the collection of loans which had been made by her father," he said.

"This defendant only tried to recoup money after her father became ill."

Judge Heywood said it was apparent from the evidence that had David Bowen not loaned cash to many of those concerned, they wouldn't have been able to set up their business.

The court heard Rowe had gone to Mr Hafeez's address with Morris on July 2008 with "an axe stuffed down his trousers" in a bid to "intimidate".

Morris was sentenced to a 12-month community order, and must undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.

Rowe was given the same sentence with 120 hours unpaid work.

Speaking after the case, brothers Timothy and Johnathan described the investigation as "the worst year" of their lives.