Residents at a blind home were today celebrating after learning they stand to benefit from a Leigh spinster's £1.8 million will - as those who tried to get their hands on the cash face jail.

Annie Kay, touched by the charity, left nearly half her fortune to the Southend Home for the Blind after performing small concert parties at the home in Imperial Avenue, Westcliff.

But the money nearly didn't reach its destination after Miss Kay, of Dawlish Drive, Leigh, was befriended by David and Annette Spillman and her mother Annette Russill, determined to get their hands on her fortune.

A jury at Basildon Crown Court yesterday found David Spillman, of St Andrew's Road, Shoebury, guilty of conspiracy to defraud.

For more on this story, see the items headed 'Will fraud' in Newsround Russill, 65, of Leicester Avenue, Rochford, who dressed up as Annie Kay to try to fool a will maker and helped draft a new will which would split the cash between the three of them, earlier admitted her part in the plot.

Annette Spillman, 47, of Guildford Road, Southend, also pleaded guilty.

All three will be sentenced on Friday.

Today, the estranged brother of David Spillman said any sentence his brother gets will not be enough for what he has done.

Nigel Spillman, 37 - who disassociated himself from his elder brother 15 years ago - said: "I am horrified at what he is in court for.

"As far as I am concerned he is as guilty as hell."

He said whatever the punishment is, it can never be justice for what he has done.

He added: "Prison is the best place for David. At least he is away from people and can't hurt them when he is in there.

"This was a despicable crime on a vulnerable old lady - he is no brother of mine.

"I'm ashamed to share the same name."

Meanwhile, hundreds of visually impaired people stand to benefit from a £1 million windfall.

Staff at the Southend Blind Welfare Organisation were staggered to discover Miss Kay had left them more than half her fortune.

Chairman Mike Smith said: "We are absolutely delighted. There are lots of things we want to do for the blind in this area.

"It is too early to say exactly what we will be doing, but we would like to further develop our information and resource centre which is especially valuable to people when they First discover they are going blind.

Thanks Annie - staff and residents at the Southend Home for the Blind celebrate their windfall, which was nearly taken from them by fraudsters

(Right) Victim - Annie Kay

First picture: NICK ANSELL

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.