JUDGE RULES EX-NAVY MAN’S HAD HIS LOTTO
A SON who blew £1.6milion of his dad’s £101million lotto win in two years has lost his court battle for a bigger share of the cash.
Dave Dawes, 53, and wife Angela gave away tens of millions to friends and relatives when they hit the EuroMillions jackpot in 2011.
But Dave stopped supporting son Michael after he insulted stepmum Angela during a drunken row over money at her birthday party.
The Royal Navy veteran, 32, and civil partner James Beedle, 34, sued the “ungenerous” couple, claiming they deserved handouts for life.
But a court ruled yesterday that Dave was not obliged to keep bailing out his son who was spending £30,000 a month.
Judge Nigel Gerald said Michael and James lived “way outside their means”.
He accused Michael of behaving extremely badly at Angela’s birthday, demanding £5million and verbally abusing his stepmum. He added: “That was the final straw. Since then Dave has not spoken to his son and no money has been given.”
Until their big win, factory worker Dave and charity volunteer Angela, 53, who both have children from previous relationships, lived in a £70-a-week flat in Wisbech, Cambs.
Chelsea fan Dave bought a London pad and the couple swapped their flat for a £9million Surrey mansion. They also gifted £1million each to friends and family and set up their own charity.
Central London County Court heard they first gave £1million to Michael, who was serving in Afghanistan.
But within months he spent nearly all of it, splashing out £550,000 on a home in Portsmouth and lavishing almost £250,000 on friends and James’ family.
He later gave up a lucrative IT job while James, a Royal Navy lieutenant, quit the service. The couple say their decisions were based on Dave’s promises he would “look after” his son.
But Dave claimed he was baffled when Michael came to him in April 2012 “having pretty much run out of money”.
He carried on topping up his son’s accounts over the next year.
Judge Gerald described Michael and James’ £30,000 a month expenditure – with a £1,000 weekly grocery bill – as “astonishing”, saying they lived some sort of “Walter Mitty existence”.
The court heard that in March 2013 Dave and Angie organised a family meeting and agreed to pay off some debts but made it clear there would be no more handouts. Tensions developed, culminating in a drunken row at Angie’s birthday party in November 2013.
Dave’s lawyer, Richard Wilson QC, said: “They have not spoken since and financial support has ceased.”
Angela said that when she heard how