Three members of a south Essex family were starting prison sentences today for their roles in a "mean, devious" scheme to steal £1.8 million from a spinster's will.

David Spillman, 45, his wife Annette, 47, and his mother-in-law, Annette Russill, 65, received sentences totalling 15 years between them. They were found guilty of conspiring to deprive the charities due to benefit from the estate left by Leigh pensioner Annie Kay.

At Basildon Crown Court, Judge Francis Petre said: "What you did was mean, devious, extensively planned and carried out and very nearly successful.

"It involved a large sum of money to which you had no right whatsoever. You tried to deprive an old lady of her choice of where her money should go and deprive two charities of her kindness and goodwill."

White-haired and pale-faced Russill, of Leicester Avenue, Rochford, was jailed for three years for disguising herself as Miss Kay and signing a will which left the cash to her daughter and son-in-law.

Like the other two, she has been behind bars since her arrest last September, so it is expected the pensioner, who admitted the offence, will be released early next year.

Annette Spillman, of Guildford Road, Southend, was given five years for her part in trying to obtain the money left by Miss Kay who she had taken to live in her home seven months before her death.

She admitted the offence earlier this month.

David Spillman, of St Andrew's Road, Shoebury, who was found guilty at the end of a three-week trial, was jailed for seven years.

His brother Nigel Spillman, who has cut himself off from the rest of the family, was delighted with the sentence.

He said: "I'm so disgusted by what he has done. He really deserves to be behind bars for a long time."

The necessary paperwork is now under way to ensure Miss Kay's money reaches the people it was intended for - Scope and the Southend Home for the Blind.

Guilty - David Spillman, his mother-in-law Annette Russill and his wife Annette (left), given a total of 15 years between them for their roles in the attempted will fraud

Scam trio blame each other

Each of the three people involved in the scam to obtain a Leigh spinster's £1.8 million, blamed each other.

Separated in the dock by prison guards, the three did not acknowledge each other but made various facial expressions when hearing the others defence evidence.

Annette Russill's barrister claimed she was hounded by her daughter and son-in-law to dress as Annie Kay and sign a false will.

She was urged for days to practice the old woman's signature, and in return was to receive £10,000 from the will.

Stuart Stephens, David Spillman's lawyer said his client's trial had allowed full details of the scam to be exposed.

Annette Spillman's involvement was blamed on long-term abuse from both her mother and husband, her defence John Cooper told the judge.

He said David Spillman had an affair with his mother-in-law, 20 years his senior, around five years ago and this worsened the Spillman's already stormy marriage.

The couple, who were together 16 years, are now estranged.

David Spillman regularly drank and psychologically and physically abused his wife, said Mr Cooper.

On several occasions he put his hands around her throat and tried to strangle her, as well as punching and kicking her.

Annette Spillman needed hospital treatment, and on three occasions stayed in a women's refuge.

In 1997 Spillman was jailed for five and a half months for causing his wife actual bodily harm.

The lawyer said Annette was sexually abused by her stepfather as a child and beaten by her mother.

As an adult she was caught between Russill and her husband. Russill reacted with anger, and Spillman with amusement, at these accusations.

When it came to the plot to get hold of Miss Kay's estate, Mr Cooper claimed: "This woman was used and abused and she did not have the strength to withdraw.

"She was in an exceptionally traumatic situation."

In Holloway Prison she is now on enhanced status, a way of rewarding prisoners who behave well, with a better cell and extra privileges.

She passes her time acting as a Samaritan to fellow inmates.

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