THE daughter of murdered Accrington wheeler-dealer David Guilfoyle may lose her inheritance of up to £1M.

Mr Guilfoyle's assets have been seized by investigators probing whether they were bought and paid for with the proceeds of crime.

His next of kin is daughter Samantha, who has just celebrated her 16th birthday and would be expected to inherit the fortune unless her dad had made a will to the contrary.

Her mum, Angela Feeley, who she lives with in Lime Road, Accrington, said this week that her daughter had never asked for any of this.

She said: "Samantha just wants her dad back. She still hopes one day he will come back but, as we know, someone has now been convicted of his murder. For Samantha, while there is no body there is still hope.

"She wants to be able to carry on where her dad left things, both in memory of her dad and to build on what he achieved legitimately so he would be proud of her."

Angela added: "This had had a dramatic effect on my life too, both personally and professionally. I just hope this is over quite quickly so all of us, especially Samantha, can get on with out lives as best we can."

Mr Guilfoyle, 37, lived in a £230,000 bungalow on Royds Avenue, Accrington, and owned 12 properties he rented out in Hyndburn along with a green convertible XK8 Jaguar.

He led an enviable lifestyle which the murder trial heard was funded partly by selling contraband cigarettes , counterfeit clothing and pirate DVDs.

The court heard he often kept up to £30,000 in a shoe box at his home.

Angela said: "I just hope the asset recovery agency is fair and just and acknowledges what I know to be true, which is that David had worked legitimately for years at quite a few companies in and around the Accrington area. He also had a property portfolio which again I believe to be legitimate."

Samantha made an emotional plea for the safe return of her father after his disappearance in May last year and then sat in court earlier this month when Shane Fitzpatrick, 36, of Hapton, was convicted of his murder and sentenced to life in prison.

Chief Inspector Mike Kellett, of the North West Asset Recovery Team, said: "Lancashire Police were investigating the disappearance of Mr Guilfoyle. During their investigation they found some evidence that some of the properties he owned were possibly a result of his criminal activities.

"It wasn't suitable for a criminal confiscation investigation, which can follow a prosecution, so it was passed to the Asset Recovery Agency which can deal with it under a civil process.

He added: "Clearly this is very sensitive and there is no suggestion that Mr Guilfoyle's daughter or other members of the family are involved in any way in Mr Guilfoyle's criminal activity.

"As a general principle there is no right to live off the proceeds of crime, which have come from victims somewhere. I'm sure the Asset Recovery Agency will deal with it very sensitively.

"If the investigation finds criminal cash was used to fund properties, a High Court judge could order the estate to be confiscated and the money used for crime prevention."