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GRIEVING VINNIE

Former football star Vinnie Jones’ late wife left £150k when she died but did not make a will

THE wife of ex-soccer hardman Vinnie Jones left £150,000 when she passed away - but did not leave a will.

Tanya Jones died after a long battle with cancer aged 53 at the couple's Los Angeles home in July 2019.

But because she died without a will, her estate passed straight to her grieving husband.

Official documents show former Wimbledon ace Vinnie was granted probate last month.

Vinnie, who went on to movie stardom in gangster flick Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, has since written about his anguish at losing Tanya.

In his book, Lost Without You, he told how they had met at a social club in Watford, Herts, when he was just 13 and she was 12.

They wed in 1994 and Tanya fought a series of health problems, including a heart transplant at 21.

The couple had been married for 25 years when she passed away.

Speaking after her death, Vinnie, 56, said: "I don't believe you ever move on, but I think my life will improve.

"The tiredness will ease."

He revealed he had sought a psychologist to help tackle his pain and urged men to seek out counselling rather than sink into depression.

Vinnie added: "I would recommend going to see a psychologist 100 per cent.

"You're not lying down on a couch as if you're some lunatic or serial killer.

"Blokes don't want to talk about it.

"They'll talk about the girl they slept with last night but won't go and talk to a doctor about how they're feeling."

Because she died without a will, her estate went straight to Vinnie. He was granted probate last month, papers show.

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