Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Rosaleen Fenton

Inside Lottery’s biggest scandals - fake ticket fraud and curse of top winners

Many of us dream of discovering that we're holding a winning lottery ticket - and what we'd first spend it on.

Buying a ticket gives us an opportunity to daydream for a while, as we imagine how our lives would be transformed.

And for most ordinary people, winning did change their lives for the better, with many choosing to help their family members and donate to charity.

But for others, it led to their downfall - with some fraudulent winners even ending up behind bars.

Yesterday, it was announced that Camelot has lost its licence to run the UK competition - with Czech owner Allwyn taking over in 2024.

More than 6,000 Brits have become millionaires during their tenure - with many deserving winners.

But there's also been a slew of scandals over the years - with some 'winners' wishing they'd never bought the prize ticket.

Fraudulent ticket

Goodramn used a stolen bank card to buy a £4million winning scratchcard (SWNS.com)

Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here

Mark Goodram and Jon Watson used stolen debit card details to buy a lottery scratchcard that won £4million.

The pair from Bolton, Greater Manchester were jailed - but not before they went on a four-day bender after scooping the prize.

Suspicious Camelot officials refused to pay out after Goodram revealed he didn't have a bank account for the cash to be paid into.

The pair denied fraud but then pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 18-months at Bolton Crown Court in December.

Jon Watson was jailed alongside his pal (Facebook)

Insider fraud

Camelot was previously fined £3million after accepting a fraudulent claim for £2.5m from convicted rapist Edward Putnam.

He was jailed for nine years for fleecing Camelot in Britain's biggest lottery fraud.

The rapist bricklayer conspired with Camelot insider Giles Knibbs who had access to vital information about unclaimed tickets.

While on leave from prison, he claimed an unclaimed £2.5million ticket that had been bought in Worcestershire in March 2009.

Edward Putman carried out a complex National Lottery scam (Vagner Vidal/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)

Despite Camelot's concerns over the validity of the ticket, they shelled out.

But his secret win was exposed after he claimed he was living in poverty to carry out a cynical benefits fraud.

In 2019, he was jailed for nine years, after Knibbs took his own life in 2015.

Regret

Michael Carroll was still wearing an electronic tag and working as a binman when he claimed a £9.7million winning ticket in 2002, aged just 19.

Michael, 19, won millions (PA)

But his struggles with addiction saw him squander his fortune on booze, brothers, sex parties and expensive cars, leaving him bankrupt by 2013.

But he is now reportedly living a quiet life and told The Sun: "The dealer who introduced me to crack has more of my Lotto money than I do. But I don't regret any of it."

Lotto rapist

Lottery winner and convicted rapist Iorworth Hoare (PA)

Iorworth Hoare won a whopping £7.2 million on the National Lottery in 2004 - while in prison after being convicted of attempted rape.

He brought the ticket at an Asda in Middlesbrough in 2004 while on weekend leave from Leyhill open prison, a year before he was freed.

He has spent 30 years in jail since 1973 for one rape, three attempted rapes and two indecent assaults.

His victim successfully campaigned for the law to be changed so she could sue Hoare for damages.

Breakup

Colin Weir with ex-wife Chris after winning a EuroMillions jackpot of £161 million (PA)

It's previously been feared that the jackpot curse could be real.

Couple Colin and Christine Weir scooped the biggest ever lottery win - £161m - in 2011.

But they split in 2019 after 38 years of marriage

By the time Mr Weir died aged 71, in December of that year, the father of two had managed to get through half of his share in just eight years.

He had shared it widely among family and friends, including generous donations to his beloved Patrick Thistle FC, charities, a political party, trust funds for the common good and property investments.

Devastation

Hospital porter John McGuinness won £10million in 1997. The kind-hearted family man gifted millions to his family, hundreds of thousands to his ex-wife and indulged his passion for fast cars.

But he ended up jobless and penniless thanks to his lifelong passion for Livingston FC. He invested €4.6million into the club, which then went into administration.

Because John had used his riches as a guarantee against the club's loans, he was liable for all the debt.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.