Fraudster spent inheritance of bereaved relatives on equine semen and squandered the remainder

A fraudster has been jailed for spending a grieving family’s inheritance on horse semen and a lavish birthday party after betraying his role as executor of his father-in-law’s will.

Peter Littler, 61, formerly of Tarporley Road, Stretton, Cheshire, was sentenced to 40 months imprisonment at Preston Crown Court last week after pleading guilty to fraud by abuse of position. A restraining order was also issued to protect his former wife.

Judge Michael Maher told Littler his actions constituted a “manifest abuse of the trust placed in you.” He said Littler had “shamelessly cheated six beneficiaries” out of a £166,000 inheritance from Joseph Webster, a “much loved father and grandfather.”

The betrayal of a dying wish

The court heard that Littler’s wife, Karen, had been estranged from her father, Joseph Webster, for a number of years but reconciled with him in the months before his death in September 2022, providing end-of-life care. Two weeks before he died, Mr Webster changed his will, appointing Littler as executor—a role previously assigned to Gary Hilton, Mr Webster’s other son-in-law.

Judge Maher said Mr Webster’s dying wish was for his family to become friends again. When Mr Webster’s house was sold in May 2023, the proceeds were meant to be transferred to a solicitor dealing with the estate. Instead, Littler transferred the entire £166,000 directly into his own bank account.

At the time, the court heard, Littler’s financial position was “weak.” In April 2023 he had applied for a personal loan, and when the inheritance arrived, he had a significant overdraft. He used the stolen funds to pay off his own debts.

‘I can do what I want’

Littler, a former security operations manager and business owner of Select Security in Widnes, ignored repeated requests from the family and solicitors to hand over the money. He told one beneficiary that he “can do what I want as executor of the will.”

His subsequent spending of the inheritance was described by the judge as “prolific.” He splashed out £3,000 on a 60th birthday party and spent £2,000 on semen from an Olympic racehorse. He also sent money to a family member caring for a child with cancer—though this did not excuse him from depriving the other beneficiaries of their rightful shares.

Judge Maher noted Littler knew one beneficiary had Multiple Sclerosis and knew of the child with leukaemia. “To keep that money from them is, in my judgement, mean and shabby,” the judge said.

‘A cruel and calculated lie’

During the proceedings, Littler made allegations against his ex-wife, suggesting she had reconciled with her father for financial gain. Judge Maher ruled there was “no substance” to these claims, which he said were an attempt to “publicly vilify” her. “You ensured she did not see any of the correspondence from the solicitors,” the judge told Littler. “You kept that from them all.”

In a victim impact statement, Karen Littler said her husband’s suggestion was “a very cruel and calculated lie.” She stated: “I returned to receive my father’s apology and I accepted it and nursed him to his death.”

She described the crime as causing “physical, emotional and financial devastation,” forcing the family to begin civil proceedings to recover the stolen money. She said her child with MS has suffered major relapses due to the stress, and she herself has been diagnosed with PTSD, leading to her having to move house.

“He has zero remorse for the irreversible damage he has caused my whole family,” she said. “My father would be heartbroken.”

The court heard Littler has begun paying some compensation to Mrs Littler’s family members following a civil court order, but no money has been repaid to his former wife. The defence noted Littler has no previous convictions and faces health difficulties, including a prostate cancer diagnosis and recent surgery.

Detective Sergeant John Whittle of Skelmersdale CID said Littler’s “dishonesty and manipulation caused his victims further anguish during what was already a difficult time.” He praised the “meticulous investigation” by former Detective Constable Graham Leyland, which left Littler with no option but to plead guilty.

Sentencing, Judge Maher concluded: “I have no doubt all six beneficiaries feel devastated by your act of utter betrayal.”