£2.5m Lotto winner faces ‘fake ticket’ fraud charge
Ex-bricklayer on faked ticket charge
A FORMER bricklayer accused of faking a winning lottery ticket to land a £2.5million jackpot could be forced to repay his windfall.
Edward Putman, 53, was yesterday charged with fraud over the 2009 win, which he claimed after Camelot announced a search for the winner of an unclaimed jackpot prize.
An investigation was launched six years later amid allegations that his winning ticket was forged.
The investigation centred on Putman’s reported friendship with Camelot employee Giles Knibbs, 38, who committed suicide shortly before the winner was first questioned.
Putman has now been charged with fraud by false representation, and if he is convicted he could lose his winnings under the Proceeds of Crime Act. Shadow Culture Secretary Tom Watson welcomed the move but raised concerns over Camelot’s handling of the case.
He said: “I’m pleased a man has been charged by police with lottery fraud. But I’m deeply disturbed that Camelot is still paying out to the directors upon whose watch the alleged fraud took place.
“I would like assurances that all such payouts will be suspended immediately at least until the case is heard. And if the accused is convicted, they should be forced to pay back their bonuses. “Players need to have confidence in how the lottery is run and confidence in the diligence of those who run it.” We revealed last year that MPs wanted to question Camelot over the scandal. The Gambling Commission fined the lottery operator a record £3million in 2016 over its handling of the case. Camelot’s former chief Dame Dianne Thompson, 67, who signed off the win, is reportedly still being given bonuses under the firm’s longterm incentive scheme despite retiring in 2014.Putman, of Kings Langley, Herts, was charged after a three-year investigation by Hertfordshire Police’s Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit.
A spokesman said: “Edward Putman was charged with fraud by false representation following an alleged fraudulent claim of a lottery prize. An investigation was opened after evidence came to light that the claim was not genuine.”
Putman was bailed to appear before St Albans magistrates next month.
He lives in a detached house surrounded by rusting cars, vans and scrap metal. The curtains were drawn yesterday and no one answered the door.
Camelot said yesterday: “We are aware that an individual has been charged.
“However, given that this matter is now the subject of criminal proceedings, it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to comment at this stage.”