Mary Jane Haigh

Mary Jane Haigh, aged 63, has been convicted and sentenced in the UK for theft and fraud. She received a six-year prison sentence for stealing over half a million pounds from her elderly father-in-law, David Skippen.

The fraudulent scheme began after Skippen's wife died in 2011. Haigh and her late husband manipulated Skippen into moving in with them, subsequently gaining control of his finances and rewriting his will. Haigh used the stolen funds to finance a lavish lifestyle, including holidays, horses, and her grandchildren's nursery, while Skippen was left destitute and forced into taxpayer-funded care. Haigh's husband passed away during the investigation, leaving her to face trial alone. The jury viewed her as a "predator" who saw Skippen as a "piggy bank." She is currently serving her sentence and awaits a hearing to determine if any of the stolen money can be recovered.

Public court records also show ongoing criminal proceedings for a "HAIGH Mary-jane" (case reference 52SB0104521) at Bristol Crown Court. Hearings for this case were scheduled "For Trial" on May 8, May 12, and May 15, 2026. The Crown Court handles serious criminal cases, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The specific charges for these particular trial dates are not detailed in the public listings.