£130K in legal aid for Hatton gem gang
A getaway driver in the Hatton Garden heist was given nearly £130,000 in legal aid – as police hunt £10million still missing from the raid.
Wi l l iam Lincoln, 60, known as “Billy the Fish”, was granted the vast sum as his lawyers fought claims he was part of the £14million gems raid.
Documents obtained under the Freedom of Informat ion Act show Lincoln – who ended up being jailed for seven years on conspiracy charges – got £127,632 in aid.
He was granted the cash despite detectives continuing to hunt for missing loot, which they claim is worth £10million.
Experts said the amount given to Lincoln, nicknamed for buying fish at London’s Billingsgate seafood market, was “astronomical”.
And they warned that the overall bill will soar as legal teams for the rest of the gang, who were jailed for a total of 34 years, finalise requests for payment.
A source said: “It’s an astronomical figure but it’s only going to go higher.
“Experts are still awaiting bi l ls for many of the ringleaders to lodge their claims and that means the cost to the taxpayer is going to be massive.”
The Hatton Garden raid is believed to be the largest burglary in British legal history.
A Ministry of Justice document states: “The final request for payment on this trial has not yet been received.”