HE IS a multi-millionaire businessman and an MBE with an award-winning museum - but it took a court ruling to force him to hand over £1,000 he owed to his own brother-in-law.

Stanley Johnson, who founded Eden Camp, near Malton, was ordered to hand over a share of his late mother's £3,000 estate.

York County Court heard that Alice Johnson, Mr Johnson's mother, had died without a will in 2002, leaving £3,174 for her three children.

Mr Johnson, 71, agreed to look after the estate, and the money should have been shared equally between the three families.

However, Mr Johnson refused to pay the £1,058 owed to his sister, Christine, who died in 2003, and her husband, Clifford Davies.

He said Mr Davies, 76, had not yet paid back a loan worth £1,500.

But Mr Davies, of Malton, told the court the money was a gift to buy a stairlift for his sick wife in 2000.

Deputy district judge Elizabeth Bowskill said: "There is no doubt that the cheque was given to Mr Davies towards part-payment for the stairlift."

Mr Johnson was ordered to pay Mr Davies the £1,058 share of the estate as well as £353 costs.

Outside court, Mr Johnson said: "I expected that decision, so I'm not disappointed. I'm a multi-millionaire - I couldn't care less. I wouldn't mind being back in court tomorrow."

Mr Davies, who attended three court hearings to secure the money, said: "It's a sad thing when you have to revert to court over something like this."

Updated: 10:44 Monday, August 22, 2005