Inheritance Battle Erupts Over Essex Home as Siblings Brand Brother a 'Parasite'
A fierce inheritance dispute has ignited within a family, centering on a £600,000 estate and allegations of a son being a "parasite" who spent decades lounging at home while his elderly mother cared for him. The legal battle pits 62-year-old Robert Chung against his two successful siblings, who argue he was a "financial drain" and "disappointment" to their parents.
Claims of Sacrifice Versus Allegations of Dependency
Robert Chung moved back into his parents' three-bedroom detached home in South Woodford, Essex, over thirty years ago, remaining there until both his father Victor and mother Irene passed away. He claims he abandoned a promising career in the film industry during his thirties to provide care for his aging parents, subsequently working at a Job Centre for twenty-two years as a result of this sacrifice.
According to Robert, both his parents promised him ownership of the family home, now valued at approximately £400,000, in return for his caregiving. He asserts that his mother drafted a will in his favour during her final days, but it was not executed before her death in 2016, leaving her estate intestate and subject to equal division among the three siblings.
Siblings' Scathing Accusations in Court
Robert's siblings, 60-year-old senior accountant Marina Bennett and 58-year-old IT manager Richard Chung, presented a starkly different narrative at Central London County Court. They described their brother as a "pathological liar" with a "grandiose view" of himself, alleging he never properly established independence and became a persistent burden on their parents.
Barrister Faisel Sadiq, representing Marina and Richard, argued that Robert's claims about his film industry career amounted to little more than employment at a Blockbuster video store. He contended that no promises regarding the house were ever made by their parents, who instead instilled values of "self-reliance" in their children.
"Our case is that you were the son that was a bit of a disappointment, who didn't leave home and was financially dependent on his parents," Mr Sadiq told the court.Allegations of Neglect and Counterclaims
The siblings further claimed that Robert provided minimal care, with their mother Irene actually cooking his meals and washing his clothes until her health deteriorated in her final years. Marina testified that during a visit in 2016, she found her mother had lost thirty pounds, stating: "For someone supposedly looking after mum, Robert Chung had failed."
Marina accused her brother of "just lounging in the living room watching movies non-stop, with mum doing everything around you," while Richard supported these allegations. They argued that their father's cancer diagnosis in 1992 did not require care until his final month, contradicting Robert's claim that he returned home in 1990 specifically to provide support.
Legal Stakes and Financial Demands
The case has been brought by the professional administrator of Irene Chung's estate, who seeks possession of the property so it can be sold and proceeds distributed equally. The administrator is also claiming nearly £200,000 from Robert for rent accrued since he was first asked to vacate the home following his mother's death.
Robert is defending against the possession claim while counterclaiming for ownership based on the alleged promises from his parents. Representing himself, he maintained that he acted to his detriment by abandoning his career prospects, telling the judge: "I didn't want to end up working in a Job Centre, but that's what I did for 22 years. That's a choice I made for my parents."
Family Estrangement and Judicial Decision Pending
Marina Bennett revealed the depth of family estrangement, telling the court she ignores her brother rather than hates him, as dislike "would require energy and emotion." Robert cautioned the judge about treating his siblings' evidence carefully, noting their obvious animosity and financial interest in the outcome.
After a week of testimony before Recorder Lawrence McDonald, the judge reserved his decision on the contentious inheritance dispute. The ruling will determine whether Robert Chung must vacate the Essex home he has occupied for decades or whether he can claim ownership based on alleged parental promises, with hundreds of thousands of pounds at stake in this acrimonious family conflict.
