A WOMAN is suing her mother for “tens of thousands of pounds” she says she is owed after her late father left her a share in a North-East industrial estate.

Rebecca Iles claims that her father, Bob, described in court yesterday as the “Del Boy of Darlington” set up a trust for her in the Cleveland Industrial Estate in the town, known locally as The Forge.

Miss Iles, 32, claims her mother, Margaret Iles, withheld rent from businesses on the estate after her father died in 2000.

However, Mrs Iles, of Cleveland Avenue, Darlington, said she had no knowledge of the arrangements her husband had made regarding The Forge.

Yesterday, Justice Michael Briggs, sitting at the Moot Hall in Newcastle, heard Mr Iles, described as a colourful character, had set up a deed of trust on the land for his daughter providing money from rents at the Forge when she turned 25.

Miss Iles claimed both her father and mother had made her aware of this fact from when she was about 12 .

However, she only ever received about £200 a month, later rising to £370 a month, from about 2003, a figure she claimed should have been much higher.

She said she later discovered the original deed of trust while looking for old photos in her mother’s house.

However, Jonathan Rodger, acting for Mrs Iles, disputed this version of events and said he did not believe Miss Iles “accidentally” discovered the document.

He questioned how much knowledge Mrs Iles had about her husband’s business dealings, and queried whether it was in fact the industrial estate manager, Christine Walker, who also benefited from a share in The Forge, who dealt with Mr Iles’ financial affairs.

Mrs Iles told the civil court she would sometimes sign documents at her husband’s request without knowing what exactly they were.

“My husband always told me that the Forge was his domain and the home was mine and I was never ever told anything about his business affairs,”

she added.

However, Miss Iles’ barrister, Simon Goldberg, queried why after Mr Iles’ death, Mrs Iles collected between £800 and £1,200 a month from businesses on the estate.

He said: “I relate that you knew full well your daughter was entitled to all of the rent and you tried to fob her off with less than she was entitled to.”

He added: “Far from being generous, you have in fact cut her from tens of thousands of pounds over the years.”

Mrs Iles denied this.

The case continues.