Double cop killer Dale Cregan costing taxpayers £100,000 as he continues to stay in cushy Ashworth Hospital
Cregan was ordered to be returned to jail last October, but there's been a massive delay in finding him a suitable prison
ONE-EYED cop killer Dale Cregan has cost taxpayers a further £100,000 after his move back to prison has been plagued by setbacks for four months.
The evil lifer has been languishing in cushy Ashworth Hospital despite psychologists ruling he was not criminally insane and should be kicked back to jail in October.
But The Sun understands finding a prison suitable for him has delayed his move.
It means the lowlife drug lord, who gunned down unarmed PCs Fiona Bone, 32, and Nicola Hughes, 23, in cold blood, has been able to carry on his “holiday camp” lifestyle at Ashworth.
He has previously bragged about his stress-free days playing tennis and snooker, cooking pizza and kayaking in a swimming pool there.
A source said: “He did everything he could to force a move to Ashworth.
"When he eventually moved there every day was like a holiday camp for him and he lapped it up.
“But when professionals overturned the decision last October he was furious.
“For security reasons he won’t be told when or where he’s until the morning it happens – and it’s driving him mad knowing that the switch is imminent.
“But the battle between prison governors about who wants him is still going on.
“Strangeways was tipped as the most likely option but he’s seen as a celebrity by his cronies and other twisted fans inside.
“It is causes huge problems having a prisoner like Cregan on your roster.”
It costs around £300,000 a year to house each patient in Ashworth.
Last week his twisted sister Kelly Cregan bragged about visiting her “real man” brother in Ashworth.
She uploaded a snap of the hospital’s entrance, with love hearts on the image.
She added the message: "Spending Valentine's day with a real man love you long time Day Day."
His other sister Stacey also visited him and her Instagram post received a string of positive comments, with one follower saying: "Legend. Hope he's good in here."
Cregan murdered two gangland rivals in Manchester in 2012 before going on the run.
He then lured Greater Manchester Police’s PCs Bone and Hughes to his bolt-hole and launched a gun and grenade ambush on them.
Last night a spokesman for the Ministry of Justice said: “We do not comment on individuals.”