Friend denies conning author

A ‘trusted friend’ of Sir Samuel Brittan has denied defrauding the renowned author out of a fortune. Michelle Braithwaite (corr), 46, allegedly tried to obtain £96,000 on the writer’s American Express card and take £93,500 from his Coutts account. Braithwaite is also accused of stealing £91,000 from Sir Samuel, who is the brother of former Conservative Home Secretary Leon Brittan, who died aged 75 in 2015. The offences date from 1 August 2016 until April 30 last year. Sir Samuel…