A FINANCIAL advisor convicted of murdering his elderly lover and stealing her cash will find out in December whether he will have his assets seized by the court.

Peter Crittenden, of Beech Avenue, Barbourne, Worcester, was jailed for life in July after being found guilty of killing wealthy spinster Joan Beddeson.

Crittenden, aged 64, was found guilty of murdering 71-year-old Miss Beddeson at her Macclesfield home in November 2002 following a seven-week trial at Chester Crown Court. He was also found guilty of stealing £279,000 of her cash.

Police are pursuing a confiscation order against Crittenden, who frittered away Miss Beddeson's cash without her knowledge.

A judge sitting at Chester Crown Court will decide on Monday, December 20 whether to make a confiscation order, and if so, for how much.

The court will then be able to seize assets to cover the order.

Confiscation orders were brought in by the Government to ensure criminals did not benefit financially from their crime.

It is understood his wife, Iris, has had her assets frozen pending the outcome of the confiscation hearing.

The married father-of-three, who struck up an intimate relationship with Miss Beddeson after she turned to him for financial advice, also recently had his request for leave to appeal turned down.

Crittenden applied to the Court of Appeal in London for an extension to the 28-day time limit he had, by law, following sentence or conviction, in which to appeal.

However, the Court of Appeal told Crittenden there were no grounds to grant leave to appeal and the case has been dismissed.