MP’s fury at £6m jail cost for killers

Two illegal immigrants jailed for murdering Shropshire “gentle giant” Neil Williams will cost the taxpayer up to £6 million while they serve life sentences, it was claimed today.

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard said Gabriel Bhengu and Jabu Mbowane should be deported to their home country of South Africa, rather than the British taxpayer paying for their jail term.

The two men, from Wolverhampton but formerly of Telford, were sentenced to life in prison on Friday and told they must serve at least 30 years behind bars. They were found guilty of murdering Mr Williams in Stirchley, and Sedgley man Andrew Owen in April last year.

The two men, who were in the UK on expired visas, were also found guilty of a string of robberies, including that of Telford woman Tracie Paxton.

Tory MP Mr Pritchard said: “It will cost up to £6 million to keep these murderers in prison. They should be deported immediately and sent back to serve their term in South Africa.

“It would be far better to spend this money helping to compensate those who have suffered through this tragic loss.”

Mr Pritchard said the Government was partly responsible for the murders as the two men should not have been in the country.

He said: “The Government has some responsibility for this tragic outcome.

“If the UK had secure borders and if illegal immigrants were sent home rather than being offered constant amnesty, which give a green light for the world’s illegal immigrants to come to the UK, then this terrible loss of life could have been avoided.”