Giles Knibbs: Last News

Lotto ticket still hasn’t paid back a penny of his “winnings”.Convicted rapist Edward Putman, now 56, was told at a hearing in January that he had three months to cough up nearly £940,000 – or he would have another six years added to his nine-year jail term, reports the Mirror.But following a Freedom of Information request it’s emerged that “to date the full confiscation order amount of £939,782.44 is outstanding”.Prosecutors say Putman – who still owns a £700,000 property – had been given an extension to pay up.Putman tricked Camelot in 2009 with a fake ticket made by Giles Knibbs, who worked at Camelot’s fraud detection unit. Putman called Camelot just days before the six-month limit was to expire, claiming he was “having palpitations”.His claim was honoured, even though the crumpled “winning ticket” was missing its bottom half and a barcode.But the scam was uncovered when Mr Knibbs took his own life and left notes incriminating Putman.

fraudster who conned the Lottery out of £2.5 million with a fake ticket faces six more years in prison unless he hands over what is left of his ill-gotten gains.Edward Putman, 56, is set to lose a house and land in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, where he had planned to build an hotel.The former bricklayer has been ordered to hand over his assets, valued at £939,782.44, within three months or face further years added to the nine year sentence he is already serving.Putman was found guilty in October 2019 of using a forged winning ticket to claim the jackpot in 2009 after a lottery insider spilled details of the scam.In a Proceeds of Crime hearing at St Albans Crown Court today, prosecutor Adam Pearson said the benefit Putman had obtained from the fraud was £2,525,495 and the available amount for confiscation was £939,782.44.His barrister Lawrence Selby said: "Mr Putman does not accept or agree the benefit figure or realisable assets, but will not be contesting these proceedings. "Judge Philip Grey said he will give a formal ruling later, but would impose a further six years in prison if the money was paid within three months.The house that is due to be taken, which is close to the M25, currently stands in a scruffy, unkempt state with curtains drawn shut.