Tony Martin's £2.5m Fortune Left to Pub Landlady After Death
Norfolk farmer Tony Martin, who was convicted of manslaughter after shooting a teenage burglar, has left his entire £2.5 million fortune to a pub landlady who became his close friend. The recluse, who died last year at age 80, bequeathed his estate to Jacqueline Wadsley, known as Jacqui, and her husband David, after developing a father-daughter relationship with her following his release from prison.
An Unlikely Friendship Forms
Tony Martin met Jacqui at the Hare & Hounds pub, where she worked as a manager for over a decade, shortly after being freed from prison. The pub is located just a short drive from Bleak House farm, where Martin shot and killed 16-year-old Fred Barras on August 20, 1999, after the teenager and accomplice Brendan Fearon broke into his home.
Despite Martin's controversial past, Jacqui, now 52, and the farmer grew extremely close. David Wadsley, who shares three children with Jacqui, described their bond as becoming "like father and daughter." He revealed that Jacqui was devastated by Martin's death in February last year and had been helping him with medical appointments, accommodation, and support at all hours.
The Substantial Inheritance
Probate papers show Martin left his entire estate, valued at £2,567,795, to Jacqui and David Wadsley. The fortune includes Bleak House farm, approximately 350 acres of surrounding land, and property in Australia. David expressed surprise at the inheritance, stating that when Jacqui first met Martin, she had no knowledge of his farm or estate and was simply acting out of her caring nature.
"It was a shock to find out we had been named in his will," David told The Mirror. "We're still trying to take it all in really." The couple had been farming some of the land under a tenancy agreement prior to Martin's death and plan to continue farming operations.
Family Estrangement and Legacy
Martin, who had no children, appears to have excluded his biological family from his will. He was reportedly estranged from his elder brother Robin, describing their relationship as akin to a "Cain and Abel situation." After being shunned by relatives following his conviction, Jacqui became Martin's only family.
The farmer even attended Jacqui and David's marriage blessing at the Hare & Hounds pub, surrounded by their daughters and close family. David noted that Martin was present during all their major life events over the past two decades.
The 1999 Shooting and Aftermath
Tony Martin's case sparked national debate about homeowners' rights to protect their property. He was originally convicted of murder for shooting Barras and injuring Fearon, then 29, during the burglary at his Emneth Hungate home. The conviction was later reduced to manslaughter on appeal, and Martin served three years in prison.
After his release, Martin refused to live in Bleak House Farm again. Following his death, the estate has experienced problems with thieves and vandals, including the stripping of his beloved 1975 Range Rover, worth up to £150,000 when restored. Additional 24-hour CCTV has been installed after burglaries.
Reactions and Reflections
Brendan Fearon, now 54, who survived the shooting, broke his 20-year silence to express that he bears no malice toward Martin. "I have no anger," Fearon said. "He did what he had to do to protect himself and his home." He acknowledged that Martin felt persecuted, as his property had been burgled approximately ten times before the fatal incident.
Fearon added that he was sad to hear of Martin's death and emphasized that both parties shared responsibility for the tragic events. "If we'd never gone to his place he wouldn't have committed any crime," he reflected.
Malcolm Starr, a friend of Martin's, confirmed that Jacqui provided crucial support to the farmer in his later years, helping him find more suitable accommodation and offering consistent friendship despite his troubled history.
