Tipton Town chairman on fraud charge

The chairman of a Black Country football club has appeared in court accused of defrauding more than £275,000 from the life insurance and pension policies of a murder victim.

Tipton Town chief Bill Williams is alleged to have committed two acts of fraud while in his position as executor of the estate of Andrew Diack.

Mr Diack died when he was stabbed through the heart by Michael Brown at the Flying Dutchman pub in Merry Hill, Wolverhampton.

Williams, of Chester Road, West Bromwich, appeared at Wolverhampton Magistrates Court yesterday accused of committing fraud while occupying the position of executor for the estate of Mr Diack, involving a £250,000 life insurance policy payout from BUPA and a £26,657,58 pension policy payout from AVIVA.

Party-goer Mr Diack, aged 29, of Stafford Road, Fordhouses, died following a friend's birthday celebration being at the Flying Dutchman in February 2009.

He was killed after smashing a bottle over Michael Brown's head.

Police found "disarray" with broken pool cues, believed to have been used as weapons in the melee.

Brown, aged 19, of Langley Road, Merry Hill, was jailed for life in February last year with a minimum of 16 years for stabbing Mr Diack, whose daughter, Megan was born days after the killing.

At yesterday's hearing Williams, aged 58, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Williams' case was committed to Wolverhampton Crown Court, where he is due to appear next on May 12.

After yesterday's hearing, he said he did not wish to comment about the charges.

Earlier this season, Midland Alliance club Tipton Town secured a place in the First Round of the FA Cup for the first time in their entire history, banking in the region of £20,000 along the way.