Family of burglar killed by homeowner cost taxpayers £80k in legal aid defending their criminal lives

THE family of a burglar stabbed to death by a homeowner have cost taxpayers more than £80,000 in legal aid to defend their criminal lives.

Henry Vincent, 37, got £12,521 before pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, killed him as he defended his South London home during a break-in.

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Dad Henry Snr, 59, received £10,483 despite having a £1.7million home with 40 acres of land – while eight other close relatives got £60,264 in total.

Despite his clear wealth Henry snr along with his son have together received over £20,000 in state aid following a series of despicable crimes.

In 2003 they were part of a £1million cowboy scheme targeting the elderly and five years later they charged a pensioner £72,000 to replace a single roof tile.

Henry jnr’s uncles Clifford, 42, David, 50, and John Vincent, 55, were also part of the 2003 scheme and together received £24,089 in state funding for lawyers.

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The gang showed rotten pieces of wood they had brought with them and squirted water on walls before saying there was a damp problem and charging extortionate prices.

The revelation by The Sun asks serious questions about why funding was allocated to a family that has raked in hundreds of thousands from burglaries and scams.

Harry Fletcher, of Victims Rights’ Campaign, said: “Yet again people charged with serious offences are receiving financial help from the state whilst victims get nothing and are offered derisory sums in compensation for their criminal injuries.

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“Individuals with substantial assets should not be given legal aid. There must be an urgent review of means testing.”

Henry junior and senior, Billy Jeeves and Robert, Clifford, David, John, James, William and Amos Vincent have racked up a total bill of £83,268 in legal aid.

But plush Mercedes, Audis and Range Rovers sit on many of their driveways in St Mary Cray’s traveller site, South East London.

James Price of Taxpayer’s Alliance said: “Everyone deserves their day in court, but legal aid should be allocated on the basis of who needs it the most."