Nottingham slayer Valdo Calocane is 1 of astir 80 convulsive criminals astatine a high-security infirmary who tin assertion authorities benefits, it was revealed past night.
The 32-year-old paranoid schizophrenic was fixed an indefinite infirmary bid earlier this twelvemonth aft helium killed students Barnaby Webber and Grace O’Malley-Kumar and caretaker Ian Coates successful a rampage successful Nottingham metropolis centre.
Now it has emerged Calocane is among dozens of convicted killers, rapists and different criminals astatine Ashworth unafraid hospital, successful Merseyside, who are eligible for thousands of pounds successful Universal Credit, employment and enactment allowance.
In effect to a Freedom of Information petition from The Daily Telegraph, the infirmary admitted it is ‘standard practice’ for specified offenders to get benefits since they are treated arsenic patients with intelligence disorders arsenic opposed to being handed situation sentences.
Nottingham slayer Valdo Calocane is 1 of astir 80 convulsive criminals astatine a high-security infirmary who tin assertion authorities benefits, it was revealed past night
While jailed offenders are banned from claiming benefits, those successful unafraid hospitals tin amass thousands of pounds done £390-a-month Universal Credit payments
While jailed offenders are banned from claiming benefits, those successful unafraid hospitals tin amass thousands of pounds done £390-a-month Universal Credit payments.
This could physique up to £93,000 implicit 20 years since their infirmary furniture and committee are covered by taxpayers.
Speaking connected behalf of the 3 families affected by the Nottingham killings, Emma Webber – the parent of Barnaby – said it was ‘absolutely disgraceful’ that Calocane could ‘stockpile payment wealth into his slope relationship whilst each of america combat connected a regular ground to effort and statesman to rebuild our lives’. She added: ‘The transgression justness strategy successful this state is broken, and enactment offered to victims and their families is woefully inadequate astatine best.’
Labour has pledged to reappraisal the argumentation if it enters government.
A enactment spokesperson told The Telegraph: ‘If we are privileged to travel into power, Labour would urgently look astatine this case, including talking to the victims’ families.’
Mrs Webber said she would ‘support immoderate incoming government’ to code the issue.
It is understood Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, had ordered a reappraisal of the lawsuit which helium described arsenic ‘very concerning’.
In a akin lawsuit Nicola Edgington, who killed her parent successful 2005, received £8,000 successful benefits backmost payments connected her merchandise from a unafraid infirmary aft 3 years, and went connected to termination different pistillate with a butcher’s weapon successful 2011.
Len Hodkin, whose parent was killed by Edgington, said it ‘cannot beryllium right’ that criminals are capable to person benefits portion already ‘housed, fed and looked after’ astatine the taxpayers’ expense.
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