Comedian Ronnie Barker left his fugitive son Adam over £90,000 in his will, it emerged today.

The much loved star, who died last October at the age of 76, had been left shattered by his youngest son's arrest over child pornography charges.

Adam Barker has been on the run for more than two years following his arrest as part of Operation Ore, the huge US probe into the use of child pornography websites.

He is believed to be hiding out in France where his older brother Larry, 46, and sister Charlotte, 43, both live - although his family insist they have no idea where he is.

Today details of his father's will were published for the first time.

The comic genius, who enthralled millions for four decades in the Two Ronnies and classics including Porridge and Open All Hours, left a total of £300,337.

He said that the sum that was not subject to inheritance tax at the time of his death - £275,000 - was to be divided equally between his three children giving each £91,666.

The rest was to go to his wife Joy, the executor of the will.

Experts said that although Barker's estate appears small he may have more money in property which he could have signed over to his 73-year-old wife in the years before his death.

John Dyakowski, a partner in Barker's solicitor's firm Dyakowski Gafford, said Adam was 'entitled' to his inheritance.

'I guess it will be invested for Adam until he puts his head above the parapet.

"The firm's other partner Geoff Gafford who deals with Barker family affairs is away at the moment and I don't know if he has even discussed with the family what will happen to the money.

'I don't know whether they have considered it or not.

'Whether Adam is a fugitive or not, he is still entitled to his inheritance.'

And solicitor Carol Wilcock of Millf Kemp and Brown said: 'If the executor wishes they can take total charge of the will, including administering the monies to the beneficiaries.

'In that case the money could easily be paid to a fugitive, obviously thatıs not right, but it is quite possible.'

'Ethically no solicitor would or should pay money to a fugitive on the run.'

Heart problems

Barker had been ill with heart problems for a long period before his death.

He was said to be heartbroken at Adam's arrest in June 2003.

Police raided the bit-part actor's home in Ealing, West London, as part of an investigation into the use of an American internet portal, allowing access to child pornography sites across Europe and Asia.

Detectives were alerted because his credit card had been used to log onto a US site along with 7000 other Britons.

His computer was seized and more than 1,200 graphic images of children, some of which were said to be extremely disturbing, were discovered on the hard drive.

A warrant for his arrest was issued in June 2004 after he failed to answer bail.

Friends said the unresolved allegations against his son caused Barker great pain.

As his health deteriorated he was nursed by his wife of 47 years at their converted 17th-century mill home in the hamlet of Dean near Chipping Norton but is thought to have spent his last 24 hours in a hospice.

Adam was not present at his father's funeral or memorial service in Westminster Abbey in February which was attended by more than 1,800 friends, showbusiness colleagues and fans including his comedy partner Ronnie Corbett, Stephen Fry and Sir Terry Wogan.

Yesterday a spokeswoman for Scotland Yard said Adam would be arrested if he returned to the UK.
If convicted of an offence he would be likely to face between a year and 18 months in prison.