BRITAIN’S biggest benefit fraud gang who stole £54million of taxpayers’ money were given £2million in legal aid.
The five — originally from Bulgaria — made thousands of false claims and spent the cash on luxury lifestyles.
They all pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering- related offences at Wood Green crown court in April and were jailed for between three and eight years each in May.
The vast sum the five defendants cost in solicitors’ and barristers’ bills for their trial has now been revealed.
But the Ministry of Justice warned the final total could be higher as the billing process “takes several months”.
Prosecutors say work is ongoing to recover the benefits the gang …