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A former British Legion secretary has been accused of forging the £5million will of a 90-year-old ex-air hostess.
Mark Pidsley, 70, allegedly grew to become a ‘sudden presence’ within the twilight of Joan Sutcliffe’s life.
Regardless of the aged widow’s household by no means assembly him, Mr Pidsley and his son David had been named as executors and trustees in a will made in 2019, the yr earlier than she died.
It overwrote a 2011 will that had left Mrs Sutcliffe’s spectacular house in Putney, south-west London, a indifferent Victorian villa in Lymington, Hampshire, and a flat in Provence to her stepdaughter Bridget Spencer, 68, and her youngsters Harry, Rebecca and Victoria. Below the brand new doc, not a penny goes to her stepdaughter, and there’s simply £2,000 for every youngster.
And in keeping with a ‘letter of needs’ allegedly hooked up to the need – but not disclosed till two years after the loss of life – the majority of the multi-million-pound property now goes to a belief managed by the Pidsleys.
The late Joan Sutcliffe, who’s pictured along with her late husband John, was listed as a ‘weak grownup’ after a fall which left her with a damaged hip
A be aware supposedly from Mrs Sutcliffe says the funds might be spent by the Pidsleys ‘at your sole discretion in your profit or given to your loved ones as you see match’.
A court docket battle has begun after the 2 witnesses to the brand new will mentioned they knew nothing of it. The pair – Mr Pidsley’s acquaintance Simon Parker and Mr Parker’s pal Marie Pollack – say they had been requested solely to signal an influence of legal professional kind.
They declare Mr Pidsley badgered them to signal a flowery letter he had written laying out ‘a fictitious set of occasions’ about witnessing the need.
Mrs Spencer’s barrister Fay Collinson advised London’s Excessive Courtroom: ‘The 2019 will is fraudulent as a result of Joan didn’t signal the need or every other doc within the presence of Mr Parker and Ms Pollack.’
In attempting to confess the 2019 will to probate, ‘Mark Pidsley no less than has dedicated a fraud’ mentioned the barrister, and because of this the 2011 doc benefiting Mrs Spencer is Mrs Sutcliffe’s ‘final true will’.
Mark Pidsley (pictured), 70, allegedly grew to become a ‘sudden presence’ within the twilight of Joan Sutcliffe’s life
Former photographer Mr Pidsley, who final yr hosted the Lymington Society’s annual backyard occasion with spouse Lesley Ann, is demanding the 2019 will is acted on.
He and his son deny wrongdoing, saying Mrs Sutcliffe produced the 2019 will unaided. They insist the witnesses have merely ‘forgotten’ witnessing its execution over a ‘slap-up tea’ within the gardens of Mr Parker’s Grade II listed house.
Mrs Sutcliffe labored as an air hostess within the glory days of flight from the Fifties, crewing propeller-aided BAOC plane to America, Africa and India.
After the loss of life of her BP govt husband John in 2007, Mrs Sutcliffe lived between her three properties, portray and enjoying her grand pianos – till a fall ten years later left her with a damaged hip.
In early 2018 her GP listed her as a ‘weak grownup’, and she or he started spending extra time in Lymington.
Mrs Sutcliffe lived between her three properties, portray and enjoying her grand pianos, however started spending extra time in her Lymington house (pictured) after a fall
Based on her stepdaughter’s barrister Ms Collinson: ‘In round 2018, Joan started to expertise forgetfulness. In late 2018, Mrs Spencer grew to become involved in regards to the sudden presence of Mark Pidsley in Joan’s every day life.
‘Mrs Spencer discovered from Joan that, while visiting Lymington, she skilled automotive hassle. Mark Pidsley, who lived close by however with whom Joan has no earlier substantive relationship or acquaintance, supplied to drive Joan from Lymington to Putney.
‘Mark Pidsley, whom Joan had by no means talked about to Mrs Spencer, buddies or neighbours earlier than, then proceeded to remain at Joan’s house in Putney for a number of days – and organized restore of her automotive, took her to medical appointments and started contemplating her confidential paperwork.’
Privately educated Mr Pidsley, who was a Royal British Legion secretary, claims he knew Mrs Sutcliffe for greater than 40 years.
Performing for him, Brie Stevens-Hoare KC accused Mrs Spencer of creating ‘speculative, spurious’ allegations. She added that the ‘allegation of forgery and fraud’ in opposition to him could be refuted.
The case has been adjourned.
