Joshua Addyman has spoken out about being unable to claim £4million jackpot won on his own debit card.
The 29-year-old had for some time no idea his card had purchased the winning National Lottery ticket.
Two men, Jon-Ross Watson and Mark Goodram, preemptively started celebrating after Addyman’s debit card appeared to land them a multi-million-pound pot.
However, despite embarking on a five-day bender, celebrations were shortlived.
Close up of man filling in EuroMillions Lotto lottery formGETTYAddyman had been the victim of fraud during the 2019 lotto win.
Camelot clocked on to the situation after Watson and Goodram let slip they did not have bank accounts.
The pair claimed a pal lent them the debit card but wished to “remain anonymous”.
Watson and Goodram, career criminals with 94 conviction between them, were charged with fraud by Greater Manchester Police.
They were later jailed on three counts after pleading guilty at Bolton Crown Court.
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Joshua Addyman had his bank card stolen
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Speaking to The Sun, Addyman said: “No one ever told me someone won £4million.
"I've had my card stolen before, I was like 'why is this such a big deal?' No one ever explained it to me.
"If it was about people winning £4million on my card, I would have been interested to see what happens to these people.”
He added: "They [GMP] kept calling me, they even sent police to my house... but I was like 'I'm not going to Manchester to say I don't know what's going on, I don't know anything'.
"At the end of 2020, they're asking me to go to court and even at this point I still had no idea.
A lottery winner had his debit card stolen
Getty"I even asked them 'Hi, what is this for?' And they just ignored it."
However, a legal expert claimed Addyman would not have been able to claim the jackpot.
Lawyer David Grossbard said: "If this was fraud and the card details were stolen I can’t see that the account holder would have any right to any winnings from a scratchcard win.”
A spokesperson for lottery operator Allwyn added: "There has been no reason for us to contact him as he is not the owner of the ticket and he has not contacted us.
"The prize in question will be paid to National Lottery Good Causes after the expiry of the statutory limitation period starting from the end of the prize claim period for the relevant Scratchcard game.”