Man said he fears becoming homeless after battle with sister over 'insane' will
A man claimed he could lose his home due to a £500,000 court bill, after losing to his sister in a court battle over their mum's will.
Estate agent John Clitheroe, 53, and his bank manager sister Sue Bond, fought in court over the will of their mum Jean Clitheroe, who died in 2017.
Jean died after having a number of delusions, including thinking that Ms Bond had stolen her collection of Harry Potter books.
She left behind her assets - valued at between £450,000 to £670,000 - and cut Ms Bond out of her will, branding her daughter a "spendthrift" and "shopaholic" that would "fritter away" her inheritance.
The late widow had an intense reaction caused by grief after the death of her other daughter, primary school teacher Debra, in 2009.
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Jean Clitheroe (in glasses and pink jacket) with her family (Champion News)Jean claimed in a note to her lawyers: "Susan hasn't done anything for me, as far as she is concerned I could have starved to death."
As a result, most of Jen's inheritance went to Mr Clitheroe, leading to a legal challenge from Ms Bond. This led to a judge ruling that Jean's will - and a previous one - were both invalid due to "insane delusions" about her daughter when she wrote them.
In written instructions to lawyers for the 2010 will, she claimed Sue was a "shopaholic and would just fritter it away", while she also slammed her daughter's alleged "spendthrift ways" when drawing up the 2013 will.
Susan Bond (Champion News)Forced to share their mother's estate, Mr Clitheroe challenged the ruling but it was dismissed by High Court judge, Mrs Justice Falk, last year.
He said he now feared being faced with homelessness, as he was ordered to pay his sister's court costs of about £500,000, having already been ordered to hand over £200,000 on account in October.
The original trial judge Deputy Master John Linwood placed final charging orders on two properties owned by Mr Clitheroe in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, last week.
Mr Clitheroe was also concerned his half of the inheritance will be overshadowed by the mounting costs and he will be forced to leave where he lives.
The judge said: "I appreciate this is a difficult position for Mr Clitheroe in respect of his own home, which is not only his home but also his children's - as well as his difficulties with his mental health."
Mr Clitheroe's ex-wife, stressing that she also has a stake in the properties, said: "The thought of their dad being homeless has caused his children great psychological distress."
Linwood said Mr Clitheroe failed to prove that his mother "was not suffering from an affective disorder of the mind and was not suffering from delusions" which affected her ability to make a will.
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Mr Clitheroe's appeals failed and increased his legal costs.
The charging orders give Ms Bond part ownership of her brother's property portfolio, but if she wants to pursue an order for sale of the properties she will have to return to court to ask for it, the judge added.
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