A convicted murderer and thief who stole £120,000 from his mother-in-law’s estate has been warned he faces prison. Ivan Downes – who was jailed for life at Norwich Crown Court in 1992 – tried to blame his late wife Linda for the crime before changing his plea at Inverness Sheriff Court. The 73-year-old admitted the theft of half what was originally libelled against him – £241,000 – between 2007 and 2013.
And in a dramatic and unexpected twist, his defence counsel, David Nicolson, told Sheriff Ian Cruickshank that his client would be able to repay the money immediately. He revealed: “He has recently come into a large sum of money and can make compensation. It is readily available in his bank account.
” It was not revealed in court where his windfall had come from. Sheriff Cruickshank deferred sentence until June 21 on Downes for a background report and the money to be repaid and continued his bail. But he warned Downes, who previously lived in Buckie but was now resident in Woodroffe Street, , that he may yet be jailed, saying: “Even if that sum is paid, all options remain open to the court for sentencing.
” Convicted murderer emptied bank account Fiscal depute Emily Hood told the sheriff that Downes’ wife, Linda, was appointed power of attorney after her mother Gwendoline Smith was admitted to Greenhill Care Home in Barnet in August 2007, having had a stroke. “Her home in Potters Bar was sold for £345,382.37 and from that £130,000 was paid up front to .
