ROY Eggleston says his son, David, stood to inherit the family post office in Keyworth in the years to come.

But the family could now face the prospect of selling the business because of his son's actions.

David Eggleston, 27, of Hawksley Gardens, Clifton, was jailed for 15 months yesterday after admitting five charges of fraud, three of forgery and one of perverting the course of justice between September 2008 and February 2009.

Nottingham Crown Court heard Eggleston made three payments totalling £58,500 into his personal National Savings account by using a stamp from a former post office to verify deposits.

He also created two forged wills, including one in his great uncle's name.

Speaking after the hearing, Roy Eggleston, 64, said: "We knew nothing about it. We are absolutely gobsmacked about the whole thing.

"It all happened over a six-month period and it seems like something had just clicked in him."

Mr Eggleston said his son had been in line to take over the post office.

He said: "Both [my wife] Margaret and I are coming up to retirement age and he could have taken it on."

When asked if the couple may now have to sell the business, he said: "We'll just have to wait and see."

He added: "We knew nothing at all of what he was doing. He was quiet during that time, but he has always been quiet."

During the court hearing, John Fountain, for the prosecution, said Eggleston attempted to request a new bank book from National Savings in September 2008.

His old book showed his balance to be £58,500 higher than expected, and included three deposits that were unaccounted for.

Mr Fountain said: "It featured deposits claimed to be made at a post office which closed in January 2008.

"The defendant had arranged for its stamp to be sent to Keyworth post office. He created stamps to himself using his knowledge of the system and procedures.

"If accepted, his new bank book would have been created with the higher amount."

Mr Fountain said Eggleston also forged two wills using an internet website called Ten Minute Will.

One fake will was created the day after his great-uncle, Jack Holliday, of Brinsley, died on October 30, 2008.

The fake will created by Eggleston stated that his mother was to receive a 75% share of the assets and not a four-way share with three of Mr Holliday's other nieces and nephews as he and his wife had stipulated.

The court heard Eggleston attempted to prove the will's legality by pretending to be a witness called Sheila Harvey, a name which he had chosen out of the Hollidays' address book.

He also opened a bank account and applied for a £12,000 loan in Mr Holliday's name.

Mr Fountain said: "This has caused a great deal of upset within the family. He was a young man held in high regard by those who knew him."

He said Eggleston created another fake will to try and help his long-term partner's mother benefit from the death of a second man in February 2009.

Eggleston also wrote a letter to the police in November last year pretending to be from the post office saying it no longer wished to pursue complaints against him.

Maria Talbot, in mitigation, said a psychiatric report concluded that Eggleston, who had no previous convictions, "appeared to be completely out of touch with reality".

She said: "His mother had taken Mr Holliday under her wing. He felt the other family members were not acting in the same manner.

"He felt aggrieved and took it on his own to change the will."

She added: "He accepts it will have a lasting effect on the family's dynamics and relationships."

Ms Talbot also told the court his parents may have to sell the post office if he was jailed "as they will be unable to cope without him".

Judge Dudley Bennett sentenced Eggleston to 15 months in jail, to run concurrently for each of the nine charges.

He also took a further 12 counts of fraud into consideration.

Judge Bennett said: "You tried to acquire the best part of £60,000 from the post office.

"Two times you fabricated a will and two times you tried to cover it up.

"When you strip it all away, you are a thoroughly dishonest man. You committed despicable offences."