Top News

A fraudster stole thousands of pounds from a grieving family after being appointed executor of the will of their dead relative, a court has heard. Peter Littler, 61, was tasked with distributing Joseph Webster's £166,000 inheritance fairly amongst his children and grandchildren after his death. But when the deceased man's house was sold, Littler failed to hand the proceeds over to solicitors, who would pass it over to the rightful heirs, and instead pocketed the cash himself.

He ignored repeated pleas from the family to surrender the money and at one point insisted he could "do what he wanted" as executor of the will, The Sun reports. The 61-year-old spent around £3,000 on a 60th birthday party and £2,000 on semen from an Olympic racecourse, as well as sending money to a family member caring for a child who had cancer and paying off his overdraft.

Littler's wife Karen had been estranged from her father, Joseph Webster, for several years, Preston Crown Court heard.

The pair reconciled just months before his death, however, with Ms Littler reportedly taking comfort in providing end-of-life care for her father.

Mr Webster appointed Littler as executor of his will just weeks before his death in September 2022.

Ms Littler told the court that her husband - from whom she has since separated - was the breadwinner in the marriage and supplied her with money.

When Mr Webster's house was sold in May 2023, Littler was due to transfer the proceeds to a solicitor who was dealing with the estate, but instead moved the funds to his own bank account instead.

The 61-year-old, formerly of Tarporley Road, Stretton, Cheshire, was arrested and later summoned to court on charges of fraud by abuse of position.

He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 40 months in prison at Preston Crown Court last week.

Karen Littler said the case had put physical, emotional and financial strain on the family, accusing her former partner of having "zero remorse" for the "irreversible damage" he caused.

A victim impact statement read: "His suggestion [that] I only reconciled with my father for financial gain is a very cruel and calculated lie. I returned to receive my father's apology and I accepted it and nursed him to his death.

"My father would be heartbroken. He wanted us to become friends again - it was his dying wish."

Sentencing Littler, Judge Michael Maher said he had committed "manifest abuse" of the family's trust.

"Because of your own financial difficulties and your prolific spending, you shamelessly cheated six beneficiaries out of a substantial inheritance from a much-loved father and grandfather," he continued.

"Your corrupt and selfish actions deprived them of the ability to make financial choices in their own lives, such as reducing mortgage payments, renovating, moving house or taking holidays, simply to make their lives easier."