A coroner accused of stealing thousands of pounds from the beneficiaries of wills was a "good and decent man who was fair minded and wouldn't take advantage of anyone," a court heard today.

Jeremy David Cave, 53, of The Grange, Balk, near Thirsk, North Yorkshire, denies illegally taking money from the estates of ten people over a ten year period.

Yesterday one of the executors of Ethel Johnson's will, Samuel Ballard, told Teesside Crown Court, Mr Cave said he would charge £80 an hour for his services but was surprised when he saw a bill for £86,000.

But today, under cross examination by defending barrister Eric Elliott, Mr Ballard said he was sure he would have been able to resolve any discrepancies in the figure with Mr Cave amicably. "I still like him very much and I am sure he is a decent man," said Mr Ballard, who was executor for the £850,000 estate along with former solicitor Peter Hatch between 1990 and 2000.

"We were very concerned about the estate and wanted to get everything finalised so it seemed pointless to start changing things so late in the proceedings."

Mr Ballard told the court he had very little experience of legal costs and had no idea what a fair price would be for Mr Cave's services.

But he recalled a discussion with Mr Cave about his friend who had been charged £104,000 by a London solicitor for the handling of an estate worth £1.75m.

He added: "I have slept on it since yesterday and don't think I would have thought it was over the top."

"Obviously a man has got to live but we were not informed about it."

"It had never entered my head that he would take money but if he had asked for it I would have told him to take it."

Mr Cave denies theft and the trial continues.