Executor of will jailed for inheritance money fraud

A fraudster who tried to con a grieving family out of their inheritance money has been jailed for three years and four months.

Peter Littler, 61, formerly of Stretton, Cheshire, was appointed executor of a man's will and facilitated the sale of his house after he died.

Instead of distributing money from the sale to the man's children and grandchildren, as was specified in the will, he transferred the money directly to his own account and ignored requests from the beneficiaries' solicitors.

Lancashire Police said he had told one of the beneficiaries he could "do what I want as executor of the will". He was charged with fraud by abuse of position, which he later admitted at Preston Crown Court.

He was sentenced at the same court last week.

Det Sgt John Whittle said: "Peter Littler's dishonesty and manipulation caused his victims further anguish during what was already a difficult time.

"He chose to withhold the funds for his own selfish reasons, even telling one of the victims that he could do what he wanted as executor.

"He flaunted his position as executor and used that to cause more distress to the victims."

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