This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/6670727.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Crime boss must pay £4.7m costs Crime boss must pay £4.7m costs
(about 1 hour later)
Jailed crime boss Terry Adams has been ordered to pay back nearly £5m in legal aid he was awarded during a money laundering prosecution. Jailed crime boss Terry Adams has been ordered to pay back nearly £5m in legal aid he was awarded to defend himself.
Adams, 52, of Barnet, north London, was sentenced to seven years in March, after pleading guilty on the eve of a trial after years of legal wranglings. Adams, 52, of Barnet, north London, was sentenced to seven years in March, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to launder his income from crime.
An Old Bailey judge ordered him to pay his defence costs, which amount to £4.7m owed to three different firms.An Old Bailey judge ordered him to pay his defence costs, which amount to £4.7m owed to three different firms.
The court heard that Adams ignored many requests for financial information. The court heard Adams, whose wealth is estimated at up to £11m, ignored many requests for financial information.
'Colossal' cost
Speaking after the hearing, a Legal Services Commission (LSC) spokesperson said: "We strive to ensure that legal aid money is spent on the most vulnerable people in society.Speaking after the hearing, a Legal Services Commission (LSC) spokesperson said: "We strive to ensure that legal aid money is spent on the most vulnerable people in society.
"This recovery, like that of Abu Hamza earlier this year, sends a strong message to those who would seek to conceal their assets in an attempt to have their defence costs paid for by legal aid.""This recovery, like that of Abu Hamza earlier this year, sends a strong message to those who would seek to conceal their assets in an attempt to have their defence costs paid for by legal aid."
Adams was sentenced in March after the Old Bailey heard he made so much money from crime he was able to retire at 35.Adams was sentenced in March after the Old Bailey heard he made so much money from crime he was able to retire at 35.
At his sentencing hearing, the judge told Adams he had a cunning mind capable of dishonest financial manipulation.
The overall cost to the taxpayer, following the 10-year investigation, had been "colossal and perhaps unprecedented", he said.
Adams salted away illicit finances in various places and used it to live a life of luxury, the court heard.
He travelled the world first-class, sent his daughter to private school and lived in a luxurious mansion.