A JUDGE has overturned a will made by a man who won more than £1 million damages after a motorcycle accident and left the bulk of his estate to his carer.

David Poole, who was 46 when he died in March 2013, left 95% of his estate to Mark Everall, who had been his "supporting landlord" since 1994 under a placement made by Worcestershire County Council.

Mr Poole's brothers, Darren and Sean, challenged the validity of the December 2012 document under which they received nothing.

They asked the High Court to declare in favour of a February 2012 will, from which they both benefited.

In a recent ruling, Judge David Cooke said Mr Everall had failed to show that Mr Poole knew and approved the terms of the December will, and pronounced against its validity.

Mr Poole was awarded the sum in 2000 after he received serious head injuries during a motorcycle accident in 1985, which also reduced the use of his limbs on one side.

He was placed with Mr Everall, who was paid for his services, and stayed there until around 2003 when he moved into the Drakes Broughton home of his partner, Susan White.

Mr Poole lived with Ms White until her ill health made it impossible and she was left 5% of his estate in the December will. She did not oppose the action brought by Mr Poole's brothers.

Mr Everall said that after Mr Poole left, he continued to provide support to him in his new accommodation.

The judge said that Mr Poole was a vulnerable person, prone to suggestibility and to being led by those close to him, particularly in relation to dealing with his money.

He was satisfied that Mr Poole did have capacity at the time he made the December will - but not that he understood what he was doing and its effects so that it truly represented his intentions.

The evidence that Mr Poole did understand its terms - which involved removing gifts to his family and charities and reducing by half his gift to Ms White - came only from Mr Everall, who prepared the will.

The judge said he was satisfied that Mr Everall used his relationship with Mr Poole to isolate him from others and his motive was to prevent Mr Poole being exposed to the influence of those he perceived as opposed to or questioning of his actions.