Former footballer turned agent, Barry Silkman wins £800,000 legal battle over ex-wife’s estate

Barry Silkman, a former Manchester city footballer turned agent, has won an £800,000 court action over his ex-wife’s estate.

Mr Silkman sued Gaven Love over the Will of Ally Fuller. Mr Silkman split from Ms Fuller in 2003 and she became engaged to Mr Love in 2007.

Ms Fuller died of cancer in 2016 and left her estate to her daughter. No share of a house was included in the estate as it was bought in Mr Love’s sole name.

Mr Silkman – as administrator of Ms Fuller’s estate – sued for a share of the property claiming it belonged to his ex-wife and so should go to their daughter as Ms Fuller put significant funds into the property.

Mr Silkman won his case after a judge ruled that the daughter “should not be kept out of her inheritance”. He relied on a letter written by Ms Fuller and later discovered unsent on her computer.

Addressed to Mr Love and titled “a few home truths” it set out that it had been agreed between them from the start that the house would be both their property.

The judge ruled that there had been an agreement that Ms Fuller and Mr Love be joint owners by way of a “common intention constructive trust” and therefore half the equity in the house should go into Ms Fuller’s estate.

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