Businesswoman, drunkenly vandalising her sister-in-law’s home after being left out of family will

A businesswoman vandalised her sister-in-law’s home in a bitter hate campaign after she and her husband were left out of a family will.

Janette Higginson, 56, would harass her sister-in-law Tracey Dunphy and her husband Michael over the inheritance and even falsely accused them of burgling her home.

Between April and July this year the mother-of-one would regularly turn up uninvited at the Dunphy’s home in South Manchester and ‘kick off’ at them whilst fuelled on white wine.

The victims said their house was vandalised with scratch marks with Higginson also smashing a wine bottle against their front door and shouting abuse at them from the street.

In a statement Mrs Dunphy, sister to Janette’s husband Steven, said: ‘Nobody has the right to leave me feeling trapped in my own home and feeling that I can’t leave my property. 

‘I have felt harassed and distressed and live in fear of what she might do to the property, me or my family.

‘Because of these ongoing incidents I feel like a victim in my own home I am scared for my safety and as a result of the ongoing incidents I have had to install CCTV.’

Mr Dunphy said: ‘I don’t trust her and don’t know what she is capable of doing.’

At Manchester magistrates court, Higginson, who works in the hospitality industry, admitted harassment and was ordered to keep away from the Dunphys for two years under the terms of a restraining order. 

Higginson and her husband of 28 years Steven have now split up and she is due to sell their home in the Old Trafford area of Manchester.

The incidents began in April this year after the father of Mr Higginson and Mrs Dunphy passed away in 2018. 

Higginson would harass her sister-in-law Tracey Dunphy and her husband Michael (pictured) over the inheritance and even falsely accused them of burgling her home.

Miss Lucy Garside prosecuting said: ‘Tracey Dunphy had had stopped talking with Higginsons around three years ago due to the behaviour of the defendant and both families lost contact.

‘After her father passed away in 2018, the defendant’s partner subsequently didn’t receive any inheritance as a result and she says that that is why the ongoing issues arose – due to problems with the money.

‘She explains that the day after she told Steven about the will and the fact that they weren’t going to receive any money the defendant turned up at their door ‘kicking off’. 

Higginson (right)  who works in the hospitality industry, admitted harassment and was ordered to keep away from the Dunphys (left) for two years under the terms of a restraining order

‘She says her husband Michael went to the door and tried to get rid of her but she had been shouting out for her to attend instead.

‘There has been a number of incidents at the house and on one occasion there was a scratch with keys down the property. The complainants describe that how whenever the defendant attends she is intoxicated and appears drunk. 

‘On one occasion they were having work done at the house when she attended and came straight into the front door making gestures with her hands. She was sticking two fingers up and making aggressive behaviour towards Mr Dunphy. 

‘On another occasion she has attended at the address again and after she was there for around 30 minutes banging at the door she started accusing the complainants of breaking into her address.

Higginson also admitted harassing a builder who stopped construction work at her house due to her behaviour. 

Her lawyer Emma Hassall said in mitigation: ‘She had ran a successful business and a family home but she lost her job and as a result turned to alcohol. 

‘Her husband has left their home and removed all his belongings. He had stopped paying his part of the mortgage and she has cashed in her pension and made arrangements to pay half the mortgage. 

‘There clearly are some issues with anxiety, stress and depression but in the main it has been alcohol issues. They caused the breakdown of this relationship.’

Higginson was given 24 weeks jail suspended for two years and was ordered to enrol on a six month alcohol treatment requirement programme.

District judge Sam Goozee told her: ‘Your behaviour can only be described as a campaign of drunken and abusive behaviour. 

‘You didn’t show any remorse for the way you have behaved and it appears your offending behaviour is only triggered by having a drink. 

‘There is no doubt that that campaign of abuse and harassment does merits a custodial sentence but it can be suspended.’