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Four years jail for man who defrauded brother of inheritance (27 October 2014)
Date: 27/10/2014
A court has jailed a man for four years and three months, after he cheated his brother out of his £1.5 million inheritance.
The Daily Mail reports that 53-year-old Peter Howes from Lechdale in Gloucestershire was jealous of his brother being “the favourite son” – and also because his brother had left the UK to live in Hong Kong and Singapore, leaving Howes to care for his elderly mother alone.
Howes began moving money out of various trusts and wound up settlements by forging his mother’s signature after he was handed responsibility for his mother’s affairs following the death of his father in 2004.
He invested in an online gaming company with the proceeds, as well as handing money to his former partners. He also cashed in two insurance policies worth just under £100,000 each.
He handed £109,000 to his brother and convinced him the rest of the money was still held in trusts.
When the brothers’ elderly mother died aged 81 in November 2010, the fraud was revealed when Howes’ brother Jonathan discussed the estate in correspondence with lawyers.
His mother had left her money jointly between the two brothers, but Howes first moved the proceeds into a joint account held with his mother, before then moving it into one in his own name.
Recorder James Watson QC described Howes as “ruthless” during the three-week trial at Bristol Crown Court. Howes was found guilty on five counts of fraud.
Jonathan Howes said in a victim impact statement that he had not brought the case to court to punish his brother – but to bring to light what had happened.
Duncan Lewis Fraud Lawyers
Duncan Lewis fraud lawyers can advise at any stage of a charge for fraud – including financial fraud, company fraud or fraud relating to Court of Protection cases, wills and trusts or probate fraud.
Duncan Lewis fraud lawyers regularly visit police stations, court and prisons to advise on fraud charges – and Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of Legal Aid solicitors.
For expert legal advice on fraud charges, call Duncan Lewis fraud lawyers on 020 7923 4020.