£2.5m lottery winner faces fraud trial

♦ A man has been charged after allegedly faking a National Lottery ticket which scooped him £2.5 million almost 10 years ago.

Edward Putman, 53, of Kings Langley, Herts, was charged with fraud by false representation following an investigation by police. The Gambling Commission found there were “serious failures” over the payout, which was made by National Lottery in 2009 despite the ticket allegedly not having a working barcode.

Mr Putman has been released on bail and is due to appear at St Albans magistrates’ court on Oct 16.