\t\t![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_292554488-503f.jpg\")
\n\t\tPeter\u00a0Littler, 61, was appointed executor of his father-in-law Joseph Webster\u2019s will, which required him to distribute the late man\u2019s \u00a3166,000 inheritance to his children and grandchildren (Picture: Lancs Live\/MEN Media)<\/p>\n
A fraudster who spent a grieving family\u2019s inheritance on horse semen has been jailed. <\/p>\n
Peter\u00a0Littler, 61, was appointed executor of his father-in-law Joseph Webster\u2019s will, which required him to distribute the late man\u2019s \u00a3166,000 inheritance to his children and grandchildren.<\/p>\n
When his house was sold, Littler\u00a0transferred the cash straight into his own bank account, ignoring repeated requests from the family to hand it over.<\/p>\n
At one point, the former security operations manager told one of the beneficiaries that he \u2018can do what I want as executor of the will\u2019.<\/p>\n
He\u00a0splashed out \u00a33,000 on a 60th birthday party, \u00a32,000 on semen from an Olympic racehorse and sent money to a family member who was caring for her child who had cancer.<\/p>\n
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Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates<\/a> newsletter or get Breaking News<\/a> alerts the moment it happens. <\/p>\n He used the money from the sale of a house to pay his own overdraft and failed to transfer the funds to the rightful beneficiaries.<\/p>\n Preston Crown Court heard how\u00a0Littler\u2019s wife Karen had been estranged from her father Joseph for a number of years.<\/p>\n \t\t In the months before he died the pair had reconciled and Mrs\u00a0Littler\u00a0took comfort in providing end-of-life care for her father.<\/p>\n But two weeks before Mr Webster\u2019s death in September 2022, he changed his will, appointing\u00a0Littler\u00a0to act as executor.<\/p>\n The role had previously been assigned to Gary Hilton \u2013 Mr Webster\u2019s other son-in-law, the court heard.<\/p>\n When Mr Webster\u2019s house was sold, in May 2023, the proceeds were to be transferred to a solicitor who was dealing with the estate.<\/p>\n But the court heard\u00a0Littler\u00a0transferred the funds to his own account and ignored requests.<\/p>\n Mrs\u00a0Littler\u00a0told the court her husband \u2013 who she has since separated from \u2013 said she should fight for a share of a property in Spain which had been left to her sister.<\/p>\n Littler, formerly of Tarporley Road, Stretton, Cheshire<\/a>, was arrested, interviewed, and later summonsed to court for fraud by abuse of position.<\/p>\n He pleaded guilty and was sentenced last week at Preston Crown Court to 40 months in prison.<\/p>\n Judge Michael Maher, sentencing, said at the time of the fraud\u00a0Littler\u2019s financial position was \u2018weak\u2019 In April 2023 he had applied for a personal loan and when the proceeds of the house sale were paid to his account he had a significant overdraft.<\/p>\n After hearing the case, Judge Maher ruled there was \u2018no substance\u2019 to the claims \u2013 which were an attempt to \u2018publicly vilify\u2019 his ex wife.<\/p>\n \u2018You ensured she did not see any of the correspondence from the solicitors\u2019, he said. \u2018You kept that from them all.\u2019<\/p>\n In a victim impact statement, Karen\u00a0Littler\u00a0said the crime<\/a> has caused physical, emotional and financial devastation. The family had to begin civil proceedings to claw back the money that was stolen from them.<\/p>\n \u2018His suggestion I only reconciled with my father for financial gain is a very cruel and calculated lie\u2019, she said.<\/p>\n \u2018I returned to receive my father\u2019s apology and I accepted it and nursed him to his death.<\/p>\n \u2018He [the defendant] has zero remorse for the irreversible damage he has caused my whole family. My father would be heartbroken. He wanted us to become friends again \u2013 it was his dying wish.\u2019<\/p>\n Sentencing, Judge Maher said: \u2018This was a manifest abuse of the trust placed in you. 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.<\/p>\n \u2018Your corrupt and selfish actions deprived them of the ability to make financial choices in their own lives, such as reducing mortgage<\/a> payments, renovating, moving house or taking holidays, simply to make their lives easier.<\/p>\n \u2018You knew one had Multiple Sclerosis. You knew her child had leukaemia. To keep that money from them is, in my judgement, mean and shabby.<\/p>\n \u2018You then decided that if you were going to be incarcerated you were going to denigrate your wife and take her with you. She has been vilified by you and labelled as corrupt. There was no substance to that.<\/p>\n \u2018I have no doubt all six beneficiaries feel devastated by your act of utter betrayal.\u2019<\/p>\n DS John Whittle, of Skelmersdale CID, said: \u2018Peter\u00a0Littler\u2019s dishonesty and manipulation caused his victims further anguish during what was already a difficult time.<\/p>\n \u2018He 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.<\/p>\n \u2018I would like to praise former Detective Constable Graham Leyland whose meticulous investigation left Mr\u00a0Littler\u00a0with no option but to plead guilty at an earlier hearing, ensuring justice for the victim.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018I have no doubt all six beneficiaries feel devastated by your act of utter betrayal.\u2019<\/p>\n Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_292422508-5f7c-e1775755956972.jpg\")
\n\t\tLittler has been jailed for 40 weeks (Picture: Lancs Live\/MEN Media)<\/p>\n
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