£2.5M LOTTO FRAUDSTER BLAMED

THE National Lottery swindler jailed for cashing in a fake winning ticket has today been blamed for the death of his accomplice in the £2.5million scam.

Olivier Orphelin says his Camelot worker lover – who helped crook Eddie Putman pull off the fraud – would be alive today if his partner-incrime hadn’t been so greedy.

Insider Giles Knibbs supplied Putman with the counterfeit winning ticket he printed at work.

He killed himself after his sidekick – who refused to pay him half the money – went to police accusing him of blackmail.

Olivier says Giles, 38, kept him in the dark about the astonishing 2009 fraud right up to his death four years ago – but warned him to stay away from builder Putman in a frightening suicide note ending with the words: “Destroy this page after reading.”

Now Olivier, whose evidence helped send Putman down for nine years earlier this month, reveals the contents of the note, his life with the lottery swindlers and the first pictures of them together.

Fighting back tears, he says: “I was blinded by my love and respect for Giles. He was such a nice guy and I could never have imagined what he’d done.

DANGEROUS

“If I could speak to him now I would ask him, ‘ Why the f*** didn’t you tell me? I would have helped you’.

“As for Eddie, he is responsible. If he hadn’t been so greedy Giles would still be alive. He’s a very dangerous man.” Frenchman Olivier, 46, also tells how:

Giles was so terrified of his partnerin-crime that he fitted their home with CCTV

Greedy Putman, 54, was still buying Lotto scratchcards AFTER the fake ticket “win” – for which he chose to remain anonymous

Giles almost revealed his dreadful secret to his lover in a chance remark

And he smashed up Putman’s car before locking himself away for hours on end in the lead up to his suicide at a beauty spot.

Olivier began dating Giles after they met at a pub in St Albans, Herts, in 2011 – the year after the fraud.

He was introduced to Putman, from nearby Kings Langsley, a year later and became friendly with him.

Olivier knew his new acquaintance was a Lotto winner – but was wary of the loudmouth builder. “Eddie was generous and friendly and I got on with his girlfriend very well,” says Olivier. “But I never really liked him or felt he was someone I could trust.

“He was a big showoff, always out for himself. I did tell Giles what I thought of Eddie, but at the same time it was his friend so I didn’t cause a fuss. I think Giles’ point