A 'greedy and entitled' daughter who plundered her wealthy mother's bank accounts to fund holidays, meals at The Ivy, and her daughter's five-star wedding has been ordered to repay £2.6 million after losing a High Court will battle with her brother.
Sandra Thomas, 65, and her husband Philip Thomas misused over £1 million of Jeanne MacDougall's money as a 'personal piggy bank', using her accounts 'as if they were their own', said Judge Nicola Rushton KC. The couple also 'unduly influenced' the pensioner into handing them three properties, worth around £1.6 million, including a family holiday home.
The judge upheld Jeanne's final will, which largely benefited Sandra and Philip, but ruled that they must repay the money and properties to the estate. Builder Gary MacDougall, 70, is now entitled to half of the £2.6 million total.
Gary had argued that his mother lacked mental capacity due to dementia when she signed the 2011 will, cutting him out of her inheritance. However, the judge rejected these claims, stating that Jeanne was in her right mind.
The MacDougall family fortune came from property developer father Alec MacDougall's substantial real estate portfolio in west London. Gary's barrister said the siblings were promised 'broadly equal financial treatment' by their parents.
During the trial, the court heard that Sandra and Philip spent Jeanne's money on themselves and their family, including their daughter's wedding at The Savoy. The couple accepted overstepping their duties under a lasting power of attorney but claimed it was an 'advance on their inheritance'.
