A waitress has lost her legal battle to keep a £650,000 home gifted to her by an 82-year-old man.
Mariia Romanyshyn, 38, was given the house in Harrow, North West London, by Richard Joy two years before his death in May 2018.
The court ruled that Joy's estate will now be divided according to his 2011 will, after his cousin successfully argued he was not mentally capable when making the gift.
Richard Joy never married or had children and spent most of his time at the library or working on his collection of rare coins and medals.
In 2015, Joy signed a document gifting his fortune to Mariia (Stock Image)
GETTY
He was described as a "recluse" and lived his entire life in his parents' home in Harrow.
The history buff met Ukrainian Mariia Romanyshyn in 2011 while she worked as a waitress at a local breakfast cafe that he visited three times a week.
The pair formed a close bond over the years.
Two years before his death, Joy invited Romanyshyn and her family to live with him as his "adopted family".
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She claimed he "thrust" the deeds of the home into her hands and told her: "The house is yours. I want you to keep the house."
Romanyshyn said he told her "I have a present for you", to which she replied: "Don't worry, I will look after it very well for you".
In 2015, Joy signed a document gifting his fortune to Romanyshyn.
Martin Larney, Joy's cousin and executor of his estate, sued the waitress over the property.
He claimed that Richard was "vulnerable with apparent cognitive impairment" and "dependant" on Mariia at the time of the gift.
Both sides eventually agreed to settle the court battle out-of-court after negotiations.
The waitress's claim to the house was officially "dismissed" by Judge Simon Monty KC.
In her defence, Romanyshyn told the court she treated Richard "as her uncle", while her daughter viewed him "as a grandfather figure".
Judge Monty ruled that Richard's estate would be divided up under the terms of his 2011 will
GETTYShe argued he was still mentally sharp, playing chess with her daughter and following episodes of Sherlock on TV.
Romanyshyn explained she first met Richard at the cafe and offered to help him with shopping after a hospital stay.
She added: "He received and felt the care, love and affection from me and my family."
Judge Monty ruled that Richard's estate would be divided up under the terms of his 2011 will. This leaves the bulk of his estate to Martin Larney, his 87-year-old mother Doreen and a former friend.
The judge stated he was "satisfied on the evidence heard that the last true will of Richard Anthony Joy was the will dated 26 November, 2011."
The case was settled at Central London County Court.
