Greedy Executor Looted Pal's £136K Charity Will

The trusted executor of his friend's £136,000 will, which bequeathed the money to a children's charity, has been jailed for twenty-seven months for stealing and blowing the lot on an "extravagant lifestyle."

Greedy Christopher MacKnight, 53, of Howard Agne Close, Bovingdon, Hertfordshire went through the money during a three-year spree, leaving the National Childrens Home without a penny.

He pleaded guilty at Harrow Crown Court to stealing £136,000 from the estate of his late friend Derek Roberts, between September 7, 2003 and December 3, 2006.

Mr. Roberts, who died on September 8, 2003, had left MacKnight some mementos in his will and had only left his own three children £1,000 each.

"If this defendant was in dire straits that would be one thing, but he is buying himself expensive cars and spending thousands on extravagant living," said Judge Graham Arran. "This money was intended for children.

"You paid that money straight into your bank account and in three years helped yourself to the estate.

"Much of that money was not spend out of necessity, but on an extravagant lifestyle that you otherwise could not afford."

By the time the charity discovered they were the beneficiaries the proceeds of the will had been spent by MacKnight, who in 2010 went into voluntary bankruptcy - a move some suspect was a tactic to avoid reimbursing the National Children's Home.

However, his lawyer Mr Andrew Kerry told the court: "It was not a wilful attempt to avoid the repayments," insisting his client was committed to compensating the charity.

MacKnight even told the probation service, who were compiling his pre-sentence report, that he was paying the charity £500-£600 per month, but prosecutor Mr. Basil Hillman said: "That simply is not the case."

The charity tried to work with MacKnight before calling in the police, but the defendant proved to be evasive and did not reply to their letters.

The bulk of the estate was in a property Mr. Roberts had left, plus some insurance policies. 

"None of this found it's way to the charity," added Mr. Hillman. 

MacKnight now says he has built up a compensation pot of £25,000-£30,000, which he will use to pay the charity, but so far they have not received a penny.

The defendant denied for years that he stole the money, but eventually admitted the offence on the day his jury trial was due to begin

"He found himself in a very difficult period of his life and he admits he made all the wrong decisions at that time," said Mr. Kerry. 

"He accepts he is guilty and is extremely remourceful. The issue he has struggled with is the issue of dishonesty."