Sheep Farmer Found Guilty of Forging Documents in £1.1m Inheritance Fraud
A sheep farmer in Cumbria, Janice Margaret Johnson, has been found guilty of fraud after forging documents in an attempt to inherit a £1.1 million estate. Johnson, 66, faked letters and will documents from the late landowner, John Harper, in order to claim his farm, Scrithwaite Farm, located near Millom.
According to the prosecution’s case presented at Preston Crown Court, Johnson had grazed her sheep on Harper’s fields for 19 years and perhaps had convinced herself that she was entitled to the estate. In her desperate attempt to gain possession of the farm and keep her business running, she deliberately chose deceased individuals, including her father, as witnesses to her fabricated documents, ensuring they could not be questioned by law enforcement or solicitors.
However, Johnson’s scheme unraveled as she left a trail of errors, ultimately leading to her downfall. The court heard that she made numerous mistakes in her endeavor to secure the farm solely for herself. Following a week-long trial, Johnson was convicted of five counts of fraud by false representation.
Prosecutor Sarah Magill highlighted that Johnson’s actions took place between March 9, 2016, and January 25, 2019. During this period, Johnson wrote several letters, masquerading as John Harper and others who had allegedly witnessed his desire to leave her his house, farm buildings, and land.
One notable piece of evidence was an annotation Johnson added to her deceased father’s old diary. The annotation suggested her father and a deceased friend witnessed a will executed by Harper, granting her ownership of the farm. Johnson also composed a letter to herself, supposedly written by her late father in 1999, which she submitted to her solicitors as further proof.
When questioned by her defense barrister, Claire Brocklebank, Johnson maintained her belief in the authenticity of the documents, denying any involvement in forging letters. She stated that she had no reason to doubt their validity, as they appeared to be written in Harper’s distinctive style and included his signature.
Janice Margaret Johnson will be sentenced at Preston Crown Court on Friday following this conviction.
