A fraudster who faked wills to steal hundreds of thousands of pounds from an elderly couple in West Cornwall has been jailed for five and a half years after being caught by handwriting experts. Percival Harris, 59, a bus driver, was sentenced at Truro Crown Court for two counts of fraud, two counts of forgery, and one count of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard how Harris befriended the vulnerable couple, who had no children and lived remotely, and exploited them for financial gain. In 2015, the couple created wills through a solicitor, naming Harris as one of the executors and leaving him a small portion of their estate. However, after their deaths in 2017 and 2018, the family noticed discrepancies in the wills.
Detectives discovered that Harris had forged amended wills in 2016, leaving the majority of the couple’s estate to himself. A forensic handwriting expert played a crucial role in the investigation, providing evidence that exposed the fraudulent nature of the updated wills. Harris had also paid two local men to witness the fake documents.
Despite pleading not guilty, Harris was found guilty on five counts. He was acquitted of theft and two counts of conspiracy to create a false instrument. Police are now working to recover the stolen funds.
Detective Constable Isabelle Woodall commented on the case, saying, “This five-year investigation has concluded with the sentencing of a man who exploited the most vulnerable for his own financial gain. The victims, who believed Harris to be a devoted friend, were instead manipulated by his greed.” The detective emphasized the importance of safeguarding measures and the victims’ lack of awareness of Harris’s true intentions.
