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Lotto fraudster handed £2.5m for fake ticket faces 6 more years in jail over assets
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.
