You won't believe why this elderly man left a fortune for a 'stranger'

fuad lawal

April 30, 2015 12:17 AM

A builder who cleaned an elderly man’s gutters for free has been left a fortune in the man’s will.

Daniel said he was shocked to have been included in the will

Ronald Butcher, who was described as a ‘private and quiet man’, left builder, Daniel Sharp £500,000 in his will, claiming a friendship was struck up between the two when Mr Sharp refused payment from the 75-year-old to clean his gutters.

However now the family of Mr Butcher, whose dead body lay undiscovered and decaying in his Enfield home for two months after his death, are disputing the will.

They claim Mr Sharp is ‘lying’ about his friendship with the pensioner, who altered his will to include Mr Sharp a few months before his death in 2013, and have asked Judge Leslie Anderson QC to revoke the will in favour of an earlier one which leaves his substantial fortune to them.

Mr Sharp said he was ‘shocked’ by Mr Butcher’s will, however claims he had no influence on his elderly friend’s last minute change to his will.

While the family accept that Mr Butcher was of sound mind when the will was made in 2013, they have pointed out the ‘odd’ nature of the alteration, arguing this should ‘excite suspicion’ over Mr Sharp’s involvement.

Mr Sharp’s lawyer said of Mr Butcher: "He found a male friend in Mr Sharp, somebody he could chat to. They had a shared interest in DIY and he liked to hear about Mr Sharp’s son."

"That is an explanation why he wanted to make the 2013 will."

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