William Davenport jailed for Windlestone Hall mortgage fraud

William Davenport arrived at court in a wheelchair after suffering a riding accident

A County Durham man has admitted making fraudulent loan and mortgage applications to buy a stately home.

William Davenport, 60, used forged documents to raise money to purchase Windlestone Hall, near Bishop Auckland.

Teesside Crown Court was told Davenport, previously known as William Green, had been made bankrupt three times and had incurred a number of county court judgements

The judge described him as "thoroughly greedy" and jailed him for six years.

Windlestone Hall is the birthplace of former prime minister Sir Anthony Eden