Man Jailed for Faking Will of Murdered Partner to Scam Family
A 53-year-old man has been handed eight months in prison for forging the will of his murdered estranged partner. Robert Webb, from West Molesey, admitted fraud by false representation at Kingston Crown Court on Wednesday, 4 October.
Shady Will Sparks Police Probe
Webb was arrested in October 2016 after suspicions grew over the will of Robyn Mercer, who was viciously murdered outside her West Molesey home on 14 March 2016. Just months later, Webb told police he’d found a draft of Robyn’s will tucked between two books at their shared home.
He claimed Robyn had signed the will but had yet to get witnesses to sign it. However, handwriting experts exposed that the signature was forged. Webb later confessed he bribed two witnesses to sign the document after Robyn’s death, around 20 September 2016.
Victim’s Family Betrayed by Callous Fraud
“Webb’s actions were absolutely disgraceful and extremely selfish,” said Detective Chief Inspector Paddy Mayers of Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team. “He tried to exploit an already devastating time for Robyn’s family, especially her two children, by cheating them out of what was rightfully theirs.”
The murder investigation remains open. DCI Mayers urges anyone with information to come forward, no matter how small, quoting Operation Zebu or contacting Crimestoppers anonymously.
