Kennel hand left £100,000 by a Crufts champion breeder sues her son for more of her £1.1m fortune

David Brand, 59, devoted 34 years of his adult life to Mary Swash's prize-winning Jokyl kennels in West Tisted, Hampshire, living on her estate with all bills paid and £50 weekly pocket money — yet claims the £100,000 she left him is nowhere near enough.

Mrs Swash, who died in July 2025 aged 89, bred Airedale terriers for decades from her Alresford farm, winning Crufts best-in-show in 1986 with her bitch Ginger Christmas Carol.

Brand's claim could strip son John Cartledge of his entire inheritance, Cartledge's lawyers have warned the High Court.

The judge questioned why Brand cannot seek work himself, and 'lauded' Cartledge's offer to buy Brand a £300,000 house from the estate.