Victims of ‘greedy’ fraudster who stole stepson’s £58k inheritance call for him to be stripped of MBE

CALLS have been made for a disgraced Royal Navy officer to be stripped of his MBE after being jailed for fraud.
By Tom Cotterill
Published 11th Jul 2019, 07:00 BST
Updated 11th Jul 2019, 11:56 BST
Iain Shepherd, 56, of Bognor Regis, has been jailed for three years and eight months after pleading guilty to stealing more than 58,000 from his stepson's inheritance. Pictured is Mary Shepherd with her son Joshua Powell. Photo: Sarah Standing (090719-3773)Iain Shepherd, 56, of Bognor Regis, has been jailed for three years and eight months after pleading guilty to stealing more than 58,000 from his stepson's inheritance. Pictured is Mary Shepherd with her son Joshua Powell. Photo: Sarah Standing (090719-3773)
Iain Shepherd, 56, of Bognor Regis, has been jailed for three years and eight months after pleading guilty to stealing more than 58,000 from his stepson's inheritance. Pictured is Mary Shepherd with her son Joshua Powell. Photo: Sarah Standing (090719-3773)

Iain Shepherd stole almost £59,000 of his stepson’s inheritance in a ‘calculated’ fraud between December 2006 and February 2010.

The former naval officer, of Bognor Regis, had been awarded an MBE in 2015 for his services to the marine sector and to the economy of Chichester.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But now his stepson, Joshua Powell, has demanded the ‘devious sociopath’ be stripped of the honour.

Iain Shepherd pictured during his time as the president of the Chichester Chamber of Commerce.Iain Shepherd pictured during his time as the president of the Chichester Chamber of Commerce.
Iain Shepherd pictured during his time as the president of the Chichester Chamber of Commerce.

In a victim impact statement read during Shepherd’s sentencing at Portsmouth Crown Court, the 23-year-old said: ‘I would like him to be punished and to go to prison and have his MBE taken away from him and for people to know the despicable apology of a human being he is.’ 

Speaking to The News after Shepherd was jailed, Mr Powell said his life had been ruined by his stepfather. 

The University of Portsmouth paleontology graduate had hoped to use the cash from his late father to pay off his student debt, fund his ADHD medication and complete the building work at his mother, Mary Shepherd’s home.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He added: ‘He was a horrible, devious man. I’m glad he is going to prison. It’s taken long enough.’

His mother echoed her son’s call and said: ‘He is a disgrace to the armed forces, a disgrace to the navy and should be stripped of his MBE immediately.

‘He lied to everyone. He pretended he was this wonderful businessman when really he was a two-faced, compulsive liar.

‘He is like a swan: on top of it, it’s all white and wonderful but underneath it’s all sewage and disgusting. He is just despicable.’

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Under cabinet office rules, those convicted and jailed of a crime can be stripped of state honours.

Predatory paedophile Rolf Harris lost his CBE after being jailed for a string of sex attacks on girls as young as seven.

While former WBA world featherweight champion, Naseem Hamed – known as Prince – had his MBE taken away from him after being jailed 15 months in 2006 for dangerous driving.

Mrs Shepherd, of Chichester, has now called for a tightening of the rules to prevent fraudsters taking advantage of the inheritance system.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The occupational therapist added she was racked with guilt about introducing him to the family and that she has needed ‘counselling’.

‘He’s shattered the family. It’s been awful. We’ve had to put our lives on hold to get justice done and to finally see him jailed,’ she said.