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A scientific genius from Colwyn Bay who helped invent the world’s first computer touchscreens caused a unique High Court tug of war over his £2.1 million fortune - by making a schoolboy error over basic British geography.

Brilliant nuclear physicist, Michael Crowley-Milling, played key roles in developing particle acceleration and the touchscreen technology that paved the way for smartphones and tablets.

But while being top of the class in science, his shaky geography led to an unprecedented legal row over his estate following his death, at the age of 95, in 2012.

Mr Crowley-Milling died childless, leaving behind a £2.1m fortune, mostly made up of the £2m he made from selling his vintage Alfa Romeo sports car.

He stipulated in his will that most of his wealth “within the UK” should go to The Royal Society, the world’s oldest scientific institution.

But the “highly intelligent” scientist didn’t realise that by the time of his death half his fortune - almost £1 million in cash - was not in the UK at all, but in bank accounts in Jersey and the Isle of Man.

A battle over the offshore £1 million ensued, with the descendents of the scientist’s war-hero brother staking a claim in one corner, and The Royal Society in the other.

But now top judge, Mr Justice Nugee, has awarded the money to the charity, after finding that, despite his beautiful mind, Mr Crowley-Milling simply made a common error.

Mr Crowley-Milling, who was born in St Asaph but lived in Colwny Bay for some time and filed patents from there in the 1950s, divided his time between homes in Harrogate, North Yorks, and Switzerland.

When the scientist died, his only living relatives were his brother’s children and grandchildren - his niece Joy Robinson, great-niece Rebecca Masterman, 22, and great-nephew James Masterman, 26.

In a will he signed in 2009, Mr Crowley-Milling bought a home for his carer, and left a £400,000 gift to his relatives, with the rest of his estate going to The Royal Society.

But his family laid claim to his offshore £1m, when the mistake in the will was discovered.

They argued that such a brilliant man must have known what he was doing when he had the will drafted and had clearly wanted the cash to go to them.

It was said he made that move because he had “fallen out” with The Royal Society in his Autumn years, over the charity’s stance on climate change.

Lawyers for The Royal Society insisted that he must have wanted it to have to have the £1m and had made a simple geographical error.

Mr Justice Nugee said there was evidence that Mr Crowley-Milling had become disgruntled with The Royal Society - but went on to uphold the charity’s claim to the disputed £1 million.

“The fact that he may have fallen out with the Royal Society doesn’t change the interpretation of the 2009 will,” he told the court.

“Even though he may have changed his mind towards the end of his life, he didn’t do anything about it, and he didn’t change his will.

“I am entirely satisfied that Mr Crowley-Milling did intend to include the offshore accounts in his will.

“It is appropriate to declare that what Mr Crowley-Milling meant by ‘the UK’ is not confined to the legal definition.

“I extend it to include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man,” the judge said in conclusion.