Commitment pays off for British farm hand

BRISTOL, England, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- Briton David Thorner was dedicated to his employer for 25 years and now after a two-year legal battle he owns the $4.9 million farm on which he worked.

The Daily Mail said Tuesday that Thorner's unpaid dedication to his employer, Peter Thorner, finally paid off when his challenge to his cousin's will resulted in him being awarded his estate.

While Peter had left his 400-acre estate in the British county of Somerset to David in a 1997 will, he had taken back the will from his solicitors and never returned it before his death.

That meant that he legally died intestate, meaning his possessions and Steart Farm would simply be inherited by his siblings.

David said that that his opposition of that result and ultimately being awarded the property in the British county of Somerset means that Peter's true wishes could be honored.

"Everyone who really knew Pete is very clear what he wanted and that the court's decision goes a long way towards that," he told the newspaper.

"I can now look forward, especially to running and developing Steart Farm as I and Pete envisaged," he added.