A FRAUDSTER who forged his mother’s will has been ordered to pay back money into her estate – but will then get a share of it.

Scheming businessman Stewart Caygill, 53, is behind bars after a judge described him as “devious, deceitful and opportunistic”.

His case returned to court so prosecutors could claw back the money he made from the con to cut his brother from the will.

Caygill plundered his mother Theresa’s bank account before she died, then tried to make himself the main beneficiary of her estate

He forged the will to pocket more than his brother, Philip – but spelt his name wrong on the document, which raised the alarm.

Philip was certain no legal will had been drawn up, and turned amateur detective to prove his brother was up to no good.

To his astonishment, he discovered he once charged their mother £4,000 for cutting the grass at her County Durham home.

Caygill, of Yohden Crescent, Horden, was found guilty of forgery and using a false instrument after two trials this year.

A judge has since ruled that he made £26,037 from his crime, and has to pay that back into his late mother’s estate.

Investigators found that he has almost £33,000 assets – mostly from vehicles and his Peterlee Landscaping business.

But when the will is finally settled, both brothers will be granted half – including the money the fraudster has put back in.

Caygill’s barrister, Will Byrne, told Judge Deborah Sherwin that his assets were “substantially more” than the £26,000.

He also tried to claim back the costs of the court hearings – still maintaining his innocence – but his stance was laughed at.

Judge Sherwin ordered that Caygill should pay £1,000 costs himself – reduced because he cannot earn money in prison.

She said: “There had to be a couple of trials because of his intransigence. The first trial had to be abandoned after Stewart Caygill produced late evidence.”

Mr Byrne said Caygill still disputes the prosecution evidence, but was keen to agree to the Proceeds of Crime Act figures.

It is believed that Caygill also took jewellery from his mother’s home before her death, which amounted to more than £20,000.