THE heartbroken family of a Worcester man who died of cancer said he would be 'turning in his grave' if he knew his partner had forged his will to line her own pockets.

The family of Terence Powell feel 'violated' by the fraud committed by the late man's partner, Ingrid Lee and her ex-husband, Chris Lee.

His children say the forged will stripped them of their inheritance and did not reflect Mr Powell's dying wishes.

Lee had been loved, respected and trusted and was even regarded as a mother figure by Mr Powell's children.

Mr Powell's son Simon said: "My father is turning in his grave. He was a strong man, and didn't put up with nonsense.

"He was taken advantage of, and I feel he was trying to tell us, but we thought his condition was why he was being oddly behaved."

The family still do not know what has happened to the bulk of his estate, now said to be nothing more than a shell, and have been told to 'expect nothing'.

Mr Powell lived together with Lee for seven years in London Road, Worcester, and Cornerways in Hallow. Other assets included canal boats, cars, tools and a business unit.

Mr Powell told son Simon he had made a will in 2007 or 2008 and that 'everyone would be looked after'. But this will has never been found despite his family searching for it.

The desire to honour Mr Powell's last wishes became a driving concern for his family.

Mr Powell became ill with lymphoma in 2009 while Lee managed the business and became her partner's carer.

Mr Powell was able to set up a car refurbishment business in The Butts in Worcester during a period of recovery from his illness.

When Mr Powell died on December 14, 2010 after the cancer spread to his brain Lee told the family Mr Powell had died without making a will.

Later she said she had a piece of paper which Lee claimed showed his wishes which gave rise to suspicions.

Mr Powell was also cremated when the family believed he wanted to be buried.

Mr Powell's family began stockpiling evidence after they saw some of his possessions for sale on eBay.

Simon Powell, acting as a spokesman for the family, said the will that was produced was certainly not one his father would have written and named an executor whom they did not know.

The family later had a handwriting expert look at the cheap-looking 'will', concluding the handwriting was not that of Mr Powell. His children received cars, watches and jewellery but nothing else.

Mr Powell said: "I and my brother and sister feel violated and we all have trouble trusting people and confidence issues.

"I myself couldn't even trust my family at one point, I thought there was a major conspiracy against me. My nan in her 80s has been traumatised and the whole family cant believe it. It's like a story out of a soap.

"Ingrid has shown no remorse nor apology. Effectively the opposite. She said to me by text once, that I should "grow up and respect my father's wishes".

"She emotionally tried to control me and says things like my father never loved us and he wasn't happy with us. What a way to lose my father, with the thoughts she put in my head like that.

"So in all we ended up with a Jaguar, a Mini and some jewellery. The jewellery has sentimental value, the cars have had to be stored over the years at cost and they are in a worn and poor condition now.

Effectively it amounts to little between the three of us, perhaps a few thousand pounds each.

"I have no, and expect no relationship with Ingrid, she won't look at me.

"We never knew Chris until after my father died. He was doing repairs and jobs in my father's house then. He used to come to dinner my sister says.

"The sentence is not of an issue to me really, maybe we, the family, wanted her to be in jail. The fact that she has admitted it, and has to live with it is okay for me.

"For everyone to know what she has done, and what kind of person she really is. All we wanted was the honest truth."