Man who inherited £50m estate after DNA test convicted over UK pub fight

Jordan Adlard-RogersPhoto source: FacebookJordan Adlard-Rogers became one of Britain’s most talked-about inheritance stories after a DNA test proved he was the son of aristocrat Charles Rogers, opening the way for him to inherit the £50 million Penrose Estate in Cornwall. Seven years later, the 38-year-old former community support worker has been convicted of grievous bodily harm after punching a man at a wedding reception in a Cornish pub, reported The Sun and Mirror UK.A jury at Truro Crown Court found Adlard-Rogers guilty after watching CCTV footage of the incident, which took place at the Out of the Blue pub in Porthleven on July 13, 2024. Prosecutors said the punch caused Sebastian Winzar to fall and suffer two fractures to his left leg, while Adlard-Rogers maintained that he acted in self-defence after being threatened and headbutted, as per Daily Mail and Mirror UK.The verdict brings a sharply different chapter to a life story that once seemed like a fairytale. Adlard-Rogers spent years trying to establish that Charles Rogers was his biological father, only for the DNA test to be carried out after the aristocrat’s death. He then inherited the 1,536-acre estate and spoke about using his new wealth to help local communities. Read more about him here, as per the reports:The night at the pubThe court heard that Adlard-Rogers and Winzar were acquaintances and had both been drinking at the pub during a wedding celebration. Winzar told jurors that Adlard-Rogers became aggressive, shouted at him and repeatedly asked him to go outside. He said he walked away several times but felt the defendant was trying to provoke a reaction.Winzar said the next thing he remembered was waking up in a chair with a broken leg. He suffered fractures in two places, a swollen lip and swelling to the back of his head. He spent five days in hospital and later underwent surgery on his left shin.CCTV footage shown to the jury became central to the case. Prosecutor Zoe Kuyken said, as per Daily Mail, it showed a disagreement between the two men, with Winzar bringing his face towards Adlard-Rogers before stepping back. She said Adlard-Rogers then swung his fist with force, causing Winzar to fall to the floor.Self-defence claim rejectedAdlard-Rogers admitted throwing a punch but told the court he did so to protect himself. He said Winzar had threatened him, told him he knew where he lived and came towards him in a way that made him fear another attack. “I punched him once, though not with much force,” he said in a prepared statement to police. His defence barrister, Robin Smith, argued that Winzar had been the aggressor and had headbutted Adlard-Rogers shortly before the punch. Smith said the footage showed his client trying to de-escalate matters and suggested that Winzar had repeatedly approached him in a threatening manner, as per the reports.The jury did not accept that account. After deliberating for just under two hours, jurors returned a unanimous guilty verdict for grievous bodily harm. Adlard-Rogers was asked in court whether he regretted his actions and replied that, at that particular time, he believed he had done “the right thing at the right time.”From care worker to estate heirRepresentative imageThe conviction marks a striking reversal for a man whose life changed dramatically in 2019. Adlard-Rogers had long believed Charles Rogers could be his father, but the aristocrat repeatedly declined to take a DNA test while he was alive. Charles died in August 2019, and a test carried out after his death confirmed the family connection.With Charles’s mother and brother also deceased, Adlard-Rogers became the sole beneficiary of the Penrose Estate, a 1,536-acre property between Helston and Porthleven. The estate generates income through investments and by leasing land to local farmers.The Rogers family had given the estate to the National Trust in 1974 in exchange for a 1,000-year lease allowing family members to continue living there. After inheriting, Adlard-Rogers left his job and moved into the family’s historic home. He told reporters at the time that he wanted to set up a charity and support people in Porthleven and Helston.A complicated family historyThe inheritance story was never simple. Adlard-Rogers said he had known since the age of eight that Charles Rogers might be his father, but that early attempts to obtain a DNA test did not happen. He said he wrote letters in his twenties but received no reply, and later sent a final letter with a DNA test kit enclosed shortly before learning that Charles had died.Charles’s own life had been troubled. An inquest heard that he struggled with drug addiction and died from an overdose at the age of 62. Adlard-Rogers later reflected that his father had faced pressure to meet family expectations, including those created by his father’s naval career and his brother’s service as an RAF pilot.Despite the extraordinary change in circumstances, Adlard-Rogers said in 2019 that he did not want to forget where he had come from. He described worrying about the next bill earlier in life and said he hoped to use his position to help others.What happens nextJudge Simon Carr told Adlard-Rogers that all sentencing options remained available, including immediate custody. He warned the defendant to prepare himself for that possibility when he returns to court on December 11 for sentencing.The case will now be assessed alongside a probation report before the judge decides the appropriate punishment. For Adlard-Rogers, the outcome is a stark contrast to the public attention he received after inheriting the estate. The DNA test changed his legal status and financial future, but the jury’s verdict has now placed a serious criminal conviction at the centre of his story.