former big issue salesman and busker has sold more than four million copies of a street cat named bob .
but the daily mail can reveal that despite his ample fortune , bowen , 36 , continued to have his rent paid for by housing benefit .
since 2012 the taxpayer has forked out £ 15,500 for bowen .
he returned to england in 1997 , becoming a heroin addict and sleeping rough for ten years .