Cider boss who torched brother’s car after will dispute handed £875k bill in court fight
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Alastair Bowerman, a former cider company boss, was ordered to pay £875,000 in legal costs after losing a court case challenging his parents' wills, which favored his brother Ben with the family farm and equal cash shares. The dispute arose after their parents revised their wills in 1999, leaving Ben more favorable terms, including shares in a 460-acre estate with a valuable mineral water spring. Alastair, who had previously torched Ben's car amid the conflict, argued the inheritance was unfair, but the court ruled against him.
- ▪Alastair Bowerman lost a legal challenge over his parents' wills and was ordered to pay £875,000 in court costs.
- ▪The wills left Ben Bowerman cash and shares in a 460-acre family farm on Dorset's Isle of Purbeck, including a Grade-I listed manor and a mineral water spring.
- ▪Alastair Bowerman previously torched his brother Ben's car amid the inheritance dispute.
- ▪The parents' original 1988 wills intended to balance inheritance, but were revised in 1999 to give Ben equal cash and remaining farm shares.
- ▪Alastair's cider business collapsed the year after his mother's death in 2012, contributing to his financial grievances.
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NewsUKHome NewsCider boss who torched brother’s car after will dispute handed £875k bill in court fightAlastair Bowerman - whose Dorset Cider company folded the year after his mum's death - became more and more disgruntled over the years Richard Gittins Friday 01 May 2026 08:46 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2968642","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/alastair-ben-bowerman-court-dorset-b2968642.html","title":"Cider boss who torched brother’s car after will dispute handed £875k court bill "}}open image in…
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