£2.5M Lottery Winner Denied Fraud Over Fake Ticket
A multi-million pound lottery winner charged with fraud has denied claiming his winnings with a fake ticket.
Edward Putman took home an outstanding jackpot of £2.5 million in the UK National Lottery in 2009. The Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit of Hertfordshire later received evidence showing that Putman’s claim was not genuine, hence started a 3-year-investigation in 2015. Putman was charged with fraud by false representation.
The 53-year-old man pleaded not guilty when he appeared at St Albans Magistrates’ Court this Tuesday. The charge accused him of producing a fraudulent ticket in Watford, England, where National Lottery operator Camelot locates, on 1st September 2009.
The £2,525,485 top prize from a draw in March 2009 was unclaimed before what was believed to be the winning ticket was submitted before the deadline. Camelot paid out the prize to Putman. The operator was fined £3 million by the UK Gambling Commission for paying out on the claim even when the “winning ticket” did not have a working bar code.
The defendant made videos of the media as he walked into the court. He covered his face with a scarf and was wearing sunglasses and a beanie hat.
Putman only denied the charge against him and confirmed his personal details in court.
He has been released on unconditional bail and is due to face trial at St Albans Crown Court on 19th November.