An elderly woman today claimed she was the £113 million EuroMillions winner – but her husband BINNED the ticket by mistake.
The woman, in her 70s, realised she had scooped the record-breaking jackpot after she checked the numbers on her notebook which she keeps as a record.
But despite matching all seven numbers she cannot claim the money – because her husband chucked the ticket out with the rubbish.
The woman – from Coventry where the winning ticket is believed to have been bought – wishes to remain anonymous.
She said: ”I play every week – I play the lottery, the EuroMillions and the Thunderball – but my husband takes the ticket off me and I don’t see it again.
”That’s why I always write my numbers down.”
The woman claims she bought the ticket and jotted the numbers down on her notebook before giving the ticket to her husband for safe keeping.
She only checked the numbers after rumours spread that the winner lived in Coventry.
But her joy was short-lived when her husband admitted he had lost the ticket and feared he had thrown it out by mistake.
She said: ”I went down to the newsagent and showed him [the newsagent] my pad.
”He said: ‘My God! You’re a winner!’ but I said, ‘I’m not a winner – the ticket has been binned.’
”I’ve turned the house upside down. I’ve looked in his pockets and in my bag and everywhere.
”I’ve said to my husband, ‘You’re never going to get another ticket off me.’
”He loses everything I give him.
”Only last night I found a lottery ticket that had won £10 in the bin by luck.”
But despite losing the biggest lotto jackpot Britain has ever seen, the woman says she is willing to FORGIVE her husband who she has been married to for more than 50 years.
She said: ”I was so angry at first, but there’s no point in being angry about it.
”I couldn’t be angry with him now. My whole life is taken up with him.”
The couple’s daughter-in-law is now trying to help her in-laws claw back the cash by contacting Camelot.
She said: ”My mother-in-law plays the lottery every week and always checks her numbers.
”She is certain she had the winning ticket.”
Camelot today said there was a strict procedure for verifying lost ticket claims.
Spokesman Simon Horne said: ”There’s an ability for us to investigate lost and stolen tickets under our procedures.
”A person who loses their ticket has 30 days to make a claim from the time of the draw.
”The security team then launches an investigation to establish it is a valid claim at our discretion.
”After 180 days from the time of the draw the decision will be made whether the claim is valid or not.”
He refused to comment whether Camelot had received a claim from the elderly couple.
If a winner does not come forward by Friday Camelot will release the area where the ticket was bought.
I’ve lost my ticket as well and have put in a claim. cw
I live in Peterborough and havn’t checked my ticket yet. I will wait until friday when it’s officially announced where the ticket was purchased before I check it.
Not checked mine yet either and i dont live in peterborough
crikey crazy story!! how can she forgive her husband?!
THE WINNING TICKET WAS A LUCKY DIP BOUGHT IN A FOOD STORE IN WATFORD
AND I GOT THAT TICKET IAM JUST WAITING FOR EVERYTHING TO COOL DOWN
It was me, i lost the ticket too. I told Larane to keep it safe, but she binned it.
It as my ticket, Liam, Kirsty and Larane lost it. They owe me £113,000,000. Pay up ladies and gents.
It was my ticket but the dog ate it! can I have my money please?
“she always checks her numbers”… How come this only came about now and not Saturday/Sunday after? Some people will try anything. Like this would work. Ohhhhh! You have them on your notebook… Here’s your £113M cheque
why would you give your husband a ticket for safe keeping when you know he looses everything
slag!!
You may be the worlds luckiest Bin man!
Use the lottery website to buy your tickets, can’t lose them. I think I would hang myself if I lost 100 mil
My brother and his brother in law had their winning Euromillions £39.7 million ticket stolen by their other brother in law last march 2010 and was witnessed by other family members, the thief claimed it as his own and despite it being reported to police and has proof, and witnesses, Camelot turns a blind eye, nobody wants to investigate it! Why ??? The whole justice system is all corrupt! Nobody cares!