Sunday People

MUM-TO-BE WHO SCOOPED £1M AT My baby will love me, not my Lotto winnings

- By Amy Sharpe

SHE became one of Britain’s youngest Euromillio­ns winners when she bagged £1million at 17 – but it couldn’t buy happiness .

The day Jane Park hit the jackpot with her first ever lucky dip ticket she was an office assistant sharing a bedroom with her sister in her family’s council house.

She splashed cash on luxury cars, designer clothes and property.

New boobs and cosmetic work on her bottom and teeth followed. Yet still she couldn’t claim to be content.

Now, six years on, Jane reveals she is expecting her first child – and finally says she has found genuine contentmen­t.

“Seeing the positive pregnancy test was more exciting than seeing the winning numbers on my lottery ticket,” she said. “It’s a crazy time but I am so happy.

Jane, wise at 23, continued: “People think winning the lottery is the best thing that can happen to you but this is something that no amount of cash could buy.

“Everybody thinks buying a flash car is exciting but in reality, for me, shopping for a pram is ten times more fulfilling.

“When you suddenly come into a lot of money you become isolated and desperate to build bonds and relationsh­ips.

“For the first time I feel like I will have someone new in my life who loves me for me and not because of my bank balance. And that is such a comforting thing.”

Jane, who lives with her mum in Edinburgh, says she is not in a relationsh­ip with the father, a friend called Barry.

Romances

“I had imagined finding a boyfriend, settling down and then having a baby, but it just didn’t work out that way,” she said.

“Barry and I originally started talking over social media and grew into friends.

“We became close and one night things naturally progressed. We are both committed to being parents.

“I’m grateful he works full-time and is a good person.”

Jane has struggled to find true love. Last November she even launched a website to offer a £ 60,000- a- year salary for Mr Right.

A string of high-profile romances with X Factor star Sam Callahan in 2017 and Dundee FC’S

Jordan Piggott in 2018 crashed and burned.

Discoverin­g her pregnancy initially made her head spin.

“It was a mixture of excitement and fear,” she said.

“I called the father instantly while he was at work and, like me, he was really shocked.

“It took him 24 hours to get his head around it but then he called and I could tell the shock grew to nervousnes­s, followed by excitement.

“It is all becoming more real and he’s doing everything he can to be involved.”

Three months into her pregnancy, Jane reflected on how impending motherhood has changed her.

“I’ve all of a sudden felt like someone with responsibi­lity and will have to be completely unselfish and look after this little person.

“No amount of money can change the fact that my baby is coming in six months and that’s helping me to mentally prepare.” The pregnancy follows a turbulent six years since her 2013 win.

The new teenage millionair­e quit her £8-an-hour job, spent two months in Magaluf and bought a chihuahua and a three-bedroom home.

She splashed out on a £25,000 BMW, a £17,000 VW Beetle and a customised Range Rover for £18,000.

Jane had a Brazilian bum lift in Turkey – which was botched – and a £50,000 makeover, including breast enhancemen­t. She recalled: ecalled: “I struggled with feeling isolated solated and scared. I wrongly publicised blicised my win so as a 17-year-old d girl living in a house alone for the e first time it was terrifying knowing that everyone knew I was a millionair­e. re.

“I moved back into my family home within a couple of months nths and rented out my properties. It made ade me different to everyone of my age. I felt like I lost my place in the world.” ”

In May she revealed d how she was selling £50 topless photos tos online and donating proceeds to charity – but insisted she felt “empowered” powered” and “like Robin Hood”.

Jane said: “I have always ways been open

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom