Pay reclaimed from soldier Jordan Bancroft

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Tony Bancroft (right) was "utterly shocked" at being asked by letter to repay the money
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The family of a Lancashire soldier killed in Afghanistan has been asked to repay more than £400 because he died after receiving his wages.

L/Cpl Jordan Bancroft, 25, from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, died on 21 August 2010.

His family has received a letter saying £433 was overpaid because he had been paid a month in advance. The family said it was "disgusting".

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it regretted any distress caused.

It added: "We never ask families of those killed in service to pay money back. If there is an overpayment of salary and further payments are due to an estate, adjustments are made to ensure families receive what they are owed.

"A recent improvement means families of those killed in service receive payment for leave due, but, of course, overpayments need to be taken into account at the same time.

"Every case involving death in action must be handled with particular care and to achieve this we strive to have clear rules to ensure the system operates fairly for all."

The £433 will be recouped from a payment of £1,493.04 for leave not taken.
'Lion of England'

But L/Cpl Bancroft's father, Tony Bancroft, said: "It is like stabbing you in the heart with a sharp stick. It is disgusting.

"These guys are out there fighting for Britain, for the UK, trying to put the great back into Britain.

"It's just shocking."

He said the money was not the issue, but the principle and how they were informed in the letter.

His son, of Earby, was shot dead while protecting a meeting between local elders and troops in Helmand Province. He was planning to marry his girlfriend Lauren O'Hara after his tour in Afghanistan.

At his funeral, L/Cpl Bancroft's commanding officer Lt Col Frazer Lawrence said he was a "lion of England".

Following his death, his family raised thousands of pounds for the Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

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