Widow Jailed for Stealing Inheritance

Eight days before Roy Mitchell passed away, he married Judith Brown. Of Mr. Mitchell’s £180,000 estate, £60,000 was supposed to be divided between his four grandchildren to be spent on their education; however, the widow stole £15,000 from his granddaughter Charlotte.

Several months preceding Mr. Mitchell’s death, he changed his will so Brown would be the main beneficiary and trustee.  Mr. Mitchell’s family had no idea his will was changed in Brown’s favor until he died. 

Upon her husband’s passing in 2011, Brown was obligated to turn over the money for the children’s education since they had reached 18, but refused to do so.  Eventually £45,000 was seized after a court hearing, but the rest of the inheritance was “squandered,” and spent on “shopping and entertain[ment].”  At a hearing, the judge sentenced Brown to two years for stealing money from a minor as trustee of the estate.  Mr. Mitchell’s 17-year-old granddaughter Charlotte, who was owed the stolen money, described how she missed her grandfather and the trauma the case had caused.    

See Ollie Gillman, ‘Black Widow’ Who Married Man on His Death Bed Just Eight Days Before He Died is Jailed For Stealing His Grandchild’s Inheritance, Daily Mail, March 12, 2015.