Peter Littler, 61, was thrown into jail after he failed to execute a dead man’s will and instead he splashed the cash on himself
Peter Littler conned a family out of hundreds of thousands in inheritance cash
A callous fraudster who swindled thousands of pounds from a grieving family, after being trusted with a loved one’s estate, boasted that he “can do what I want”.
Peter Littler, 61, was appointed executor of Joseph Webster’s will, and should have distributed the man’s £166,000 inheritance fairly amongst his children and grandchildren but Littler did precisely the opposite. When the deceased’s house was sold, the proceeds were supposed to pass through solicitors then handed to the rightful heirs.
Instead, Littler transferred the funds directly into his own bank account – and repeatedly ignored the family’s demands to hand it over.
At one point, he told one of the beneficiaries that he “can do what I want as executor of the will”. The fraudster splashed out £3,000 on a 60th birthday party, £2,000 on semen from an Olympic racehorse and sent money to a family member who was caring for her child who had cancer.
He was sentenced to 40 months behind bars at Preston Crown Court(Image: MEN Media)
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The former security operations manager did not tell thefamily members he was spending their inheritance, reports Lancs Live. Littler also used the proceeds from the property sale to clear his own overdraft and failed to transfer the funds to those legally entitled to them.
Preston Crown Court was told how fraudster’s wife, Karen, had been estranged from her father, Joseph Webster, for several years. In the months leading up to his death the pair had reconciled and Mrs Littler found solace in providing end-of-life care for her father.
However, two weeks before Mr Webster’s death in September 2022, he amended his will and named Littler as executor. The position had previously been given to Gary Hilton – Mr Webster’s other son-in-law, the court was told.
Mrs Littler informed the court her husband – from whom she has since separated – told her she should fight for a share of a Spanish property which had been left to her sister. She explained Littler was the main earner in their marriage while she was a housewife, but would receive money from her husband.
When Mr Webster’s house was sold in May 2023, the proceeds were due to be transferred to a solicitor handling the estate. But the court was told Littler moved the funds into his own account and disregarded requests.
Littler, previously of, Stretton, Cheshire, was arrested, questioned, and summonsed to court for fraud by abuse of position. He admitted guilt and was sentenced last week at Preston Crown Court to 40 months behind bars.
Judge Michael Maher, during sentencing said: “You kept that from them all.” In a victim impact statement, Karen Littler described the devastation the crime had inflicted on them. The family was forced to launch civil proceedings to recover the money stolen from them.
She said: “His suggestion 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.
“He [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 – it was his dying wish. Peter used the legal system to continue his deception and further traumatise the family my father entrusted him to protect.”
The judge said: “He has zero remorse for the irreversible damage he has caused. This 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.
“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. You knew one had Multiple Sclerosis. You knew her child had leukaemia. To kept that money from them is, in my judgement, mean and shabby.
“You 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.
“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.”
DS John Whittle, of Skelmersdale CID, stated: “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.
“I would like to praise former Detective Constable Graham Leyland whose meticulous investigation left Mr Littler with no option but to plead guilty at an earlier hearing, ensuring justice for the victim. I have no doubt all six beneficiaries feel devastated by your act of utter betrayal.”