Builder whose millionaire mum ‘cut him out of will when he cheated on his wife’ locked in £5m court battle with sister

A BUILDER locked in court battle with his sister has denied his mum cut him out her £5million will because he cheated on his wife.

Gary MacDougall had expected to split his multi-millionaire mum Jeanne’s estate with his sister Sandra Thomas and her husband.

But Gary, 70, was left with nothing after Jeanne’s will was altered in 2011 – nine years before her death.

He is now locked in a court battle with Sandra, 65, and his brother-in-law Lloyd to overturn his mum’s final will – and is claiming £2million.

The builder has accused the couple of splurging Jeanne’s fortune while she was still alive.

But Sandra’s lawyers this week said Jeanne may have cut Gary out because she was “ashamed” of him after he had an affair.

They told the High Court that Jeanne – as a member of an older, more traditional generation – had been “disappointed” with her son.

She had supported Gary’s wife, Anna, after his admitted affair with a local council worker.

But giving evidence, the builder denied he was disinherited because his mother had been “brooding” about his infidelity.

He told the judge his “sharp as a tack” mum would have given him “both barrels” if she was really angry with him.

Following their dad’s death, Jeanne initially made a will in 2008.

It amounted to a “broadly equal” split between Gary and his family on one side and daughter and son-in-law on the other.

But in 2011, Jeanne’s final will stated all four properties would go to Sandra and her husband – as well as the majority of Jeanne’s savings.

Gary claims the will is invalid due to “presumed undue influence” as it was made at a time when his mum was suffering from Alzheimer’s.

He claims the couple are guilty of “financial abuse” while looking after his mum’s affairs under a power of attorney.

Gary accused his sister of spending the family fortune on posh meals at the Ivy and her daughter’s lavish wedding at the Savoy Hotel.

He claims large sums were illegitimately spent by both Sandra and Lloyd while Jeanne was incapable of consenting to the cash being used.

But the couple claim that although some of the money was spent on their family, it doesn’t matter as it was destined for Sandra anyway.

The 2011 will also made clear Jeanne was closer to her daughter and wanted Gary to inherit very little or nothing from her estate, it was said.

Gary also told the judge two properties, that ultimately should have gone to his family, were also removed from the estate before her death.

These were one property sold for £900,000 and another – a home in West London – valued at £1.7million.

The court heard Gary had already received valuable business and property interests from his late father Alexander MacDougall.

Gary’s barrister Harry Martin said the family fortune came from his property developer dad’s “substantial real estate portfolio”.

Development properties were mainly bought up in the Acton and Ealing areas of west London and rented out – generating significant profits.

As a builder himself, Gary says he contributed to the family’s wealth by using his company to maintain the properties free of charge.

Mr Martin claimed it had been made clear to the siblings by their parents they would receive “broadly equal financial treatment and inheritance”.

He alleged Gary’s dad insisted he would not require a huge pension pot because he would inherit property on which to live on in retirement.

Sandra and Lloyd’s barrister Alexander Learmonth said the couple accept they went past their authority under the power of attorney.

But he told the court they did not do so deliberately and they acted with what they “sincerely believed to be in the best interests” of Jeanne.

The case is set for a trial later this year.