Henry Vincent’s family bought £1.7m home for fraction of value

THE family of Henry Vincent, the career criminal stabbed to death while burgling a pensioner’s home, have bought a Grade II listed mansion at a fraction of its estimated value, it has emerged.

Vincent’s parents Rosemary and Henry Snr have moved into the grounds of Snagbrook House, a sprawling historic property set in 40 acres of land in the Kent countryside.

Mrs Vincent, 59, completed the sale of the property last month, paying £325,000, despite local estate agents estimating it could be worth up to £1.7 million.

They bought the house and land from Dudley Wright, 72, who has lived on the Snagbrook estate for more than 40-years.

It is understood Mr Wright, who is divorced and has a daughter, is continuing to live in the grounds, but it is not clear if he is inhabiting a static caravan or remains in the main house itself. Earlier this week, officers from Kent Police, attended the property and spoke to Mr Wright after locals expressed concern about his welfare.

A spokesman for the force said: “The man was spoken to alone and confirmed he was safe and well. No offences were identified.”

Details of the recent property sale available on the land registry website, showed that Mrs Vincent bought Snagbrook under five separate titles, each valued at £65,000.

It is understood the Vincents met Mr Wright in 2011 when they were brought in to carry out some repair work on the main house.

Mr Vincent Snr was jailed with his son for defrauding an 81-year-old man over £72,000 of unnecessary building work they persuaded him to have done.

They later moved on to the site, living in a caravan and a short time later evicted Walter Bratton, 76, a farmhand,

Speaking from his new bungalow home in nearby Maidstone, the pensioner said: “When the Vincent family arrived, I had to leave. They laid me off and I had to move house. I don’t know about [their] deal with Mr Wright so I couldn’t tell you whether he was paid a fair price or not.”

Mr Wright’s ex-wife, Winifred, 72, claimed their daughter, Davinia, 41, had recently been written out of his will. Miss Wright could not be contacted last night. Yesterday, as the family attended the funeral of Henry Vincent Jnr, two Alsatians patrolled the grounds at Snagbrook and signs warned visitors were not welcome.