Killer farmer Tony Martin leaves £2.5m fortune to pub landlady he met after jail

Norfolk farmer, Tony Martin who shot a teenage burglar dead after he broke into his home, left entire estate to Jacqueline Wadsley who ‘became like a daughter’ to him

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Killer farmer Tony Martin has left his complete £2.5m fortune to a pub landlady he met following his release from prison for shooting a teen burglar dead. Hermit-like Mr Martin, who passed away last year at 80, formed a tight relationship with Jacqueline Wadsley – known as Jacqui – after his murder conviction was quashed for gunning down Fred Barrass.

They became acquainted at the Hare and Hounds pub where Mr Martin would frequent for drinks and Jacqui, now 52, served as manager for over 10 years, the Mirror reports.

The establishment sits just a brief journey from the now-infamous Bleak House residence where Mr Martin slayed Fred, 16, using a pump-action shotgun on August 20 1999. Despite his history and criminal record, Mr Martin and Jacqui are reported to have “become like father and daughter” and she was left heartbroken by his passing in February last year.

Probate documents now reveal Mr Martin bequeathed his complete estate – amounting to £2,567,795 – to Jacqui and her husband, David, 45. The wealth reportedly comprises Bleak House, 350 acres of surrounding farmland and Australian property.

Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, David, who has three children with Jacqui, revealed: “Tony came into Jacqui’s pub which she was running at the time

“It was more than 20 years ago and it’s around the time I sort of met Jacqui as well, so that’s where the story began. It was after [the shooting] and after Mr Martin had been released from prison.

“It was a slow burner but Jacqui, by her nature, she’s a very, very caring person so the friendship just grew. It became something much stronger and ended up being more like a father and a daughter relationship to be honest at the end.”

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When questioned whether they anticipated being named as beneficiaries in Mr Martin’s will, David explained: “Jacqui was very surprised. When she first met him she had no idea about his farm or his estate and that was never on her mind.

“It was just her caring nature that was just to look after him and then it just grew from there. It was a shock to find out we had been named in his will. We’re still trying to take it all in really.”

It had been assumed that portions of Mr Martin’s inheritance would go to a relative. However, Mr Martin – who remained childless – appears to have overlooked his family entirely in his final testament and probate documents.

He had reportedly become entirely estranged from his feuding older brother, Robin, and had previously likened their bond to a “Cain and Abel situation”.

Following his ostracisation after the killing, Jacqui, who resides in Wisbech and now operates as a property landlord, became Mr Martin’s sole family.

The Mirror has learned that she was devastated by his death and is reported to have assisted with “medical appointments, accommodation and would be there at all hours of the day” to support Mr Martin. He even attended her wedding blessing when she officially married David at the Hare and Hounds pub, surrounded by their daughters and close family.

David revealed: “Tony was in the background basically during all our major life events over the last 20 years really.

“Jacqui was always helping him with anything to do with doctors, hospitals, accommodation, and was there at all hours.”

He added: “We only knew Tony as Tony, so Jacqui is actually still going through a grieving process. We all were very close to him. He had his way and he had his views but you know he became part of the family really.

“They were like father and daughter and with Tony dying it’s been emotional for her. With Tony’s history and past, he obviously had this media presence but she only saw him as Tony.

“She wants to keep her privacy, there are things that no-one will ever know and how close their relationship was.”

Mr Martin passed away from the effects of a stroke more than 25 years after Barras and Brendon Fearon, then 29, broke into his home in Emneth Hungate, Norfolk, on August 20, 1999.

Barras died at the scene but Fearon survived his injuries. Mr Martin was imprisoned for murder but released three years later after the conviction was downgraded to manslaughter. The incident triggered nationwide discussion regarding property owners’ rights to defend their homes.

Mr Martin refused to enter the Bleak House Farm structure following his imprisonment for killing Barass and wounding his associate

.Following his passing, additional round-the-clock CCTV systems were fitted at the property after burglars targeted a barn. Mr Martin’s cherished 1975 Range Rover was damaged and stripped for components. The classic two-door vehicle represents a rare model potentially valued at up to £150,000 when fully restored, it is understood.

Earlier this week, David indicated the property had been pillaged by criminals and vandals but confirmed they would maintain agricultural operations on the land. He informed the Mirror he had been cultivating portions of the land before Mr Martin’s passing, stating: “We’ve got no plans at the moment.

“We’re Just tidying things up and we’re just gonna try and keep farming it. We were basically effectively farming it when he died anyway, we had a tenancy.

“We’re going to try to keep the farm going, which I’m sure Tony would have wanted. “Discussing the break-ins at the property, David remarked: “Tony was tortured and persecuted really all of his life.

“Unfortunately that hasn’t stopped and there’s still people that are still going down and breaking in. There’s still a bit of a stigma there so it’s been challenging.

“We’ve just tried to clear things up and tidy up really and till we decide what we want to do but at the moment we just want to keep farming it. “

Following Mr Martin’s death, Fearon ended his 20-year silence to tell the Mirror he harboured no resentment towards the farmer who had left him disabled for life. He said: “I have no anger. He did what he had to do to protect himself and his home.”

The 54-year-old also disclosed he was saddened to learn that Mr Martin had died and revealed how the shooting initially failed to put him off a criminal lifestyle. But he maintained he has transformed into a reformed character who adores his family.

Fearon, who remains in excruciating agony from the injuries to both his legs – with a gaping hole in one – said of his death: “I feel for him and his family. Life’s not been kind to me but it was much crueller to little Fred, who lost his life, and his family.

“But I have never felt any bitterness or animosity towards that farmer. I’m not saying he should have shot someone dead, that’s wrong, but he felt persecuted by us and we shouldn’t have been there.

“His place had been robbed 10 times before and it was an easy target. I have no anger.”

He added: “If we’d never gone to his place he wouldn’t have committed any crime, there would have been no shootings and no killing. He wasn’t the only one to blame.

“He lived to a good old age, it’s sad he’s gone but it’s the end of a chapter.”