Lotto winner’s jackpot ‘ruined his life’ as he drank himself to death after scam

A man who became a millionaire overnight after winning the lottery died just five years later as he admitted the windfall had "ruined his life."

Bakery worker, Keith Gough scooped a £9m jackpot in 2005 and thought his problems were all over, splashing out on flash cars, racehorses and a £350,000 VIP box at Aston Villa with his wife, Louise.

But the win led to a devastating downward spiral which saw the 58-year-old turn to booze and fall victim to a "parasite" con artist after his marriage of 25 years collapsed.

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The year before he died in 2010, he told reporters how his life began to fall apart after his heavy drinking led to him checking into rehab.

"Without routine in my life I started to spend, spend, spend. In the end I was just bored," he said.

"Before the win all I would drink was some wine with a meal. I used to be popular but I've driven away all my friends. I don't trust anyone any more.

"When I see someone going in to a newsagent, I advise them not to buy a lottery ticket."

Dad-of-one, Keith had given up his bakery job and bought a £500,000 house in Westgate, Shropshire.

But when his marriage ended, he was targeted in Birmingham's Priory clinic by scam artist and convicted fraudster James Prince, who befriended him, before starting to bleed him dry, the Mirror reports.

Prince, who was described in Chester Crown Court as a "parasite" who was in debt to the tune of £144,000 was jailed for three years and four months following the con.

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The trial heard that trusting Keith was an "easy and vulnerable" victim.

A friend of Keith, who did not want to be named, said: "He always put a brave face on things but we all knew he was financially screwed. I know the stress of not being able to pay his way was weighing on his mind.''

Keith and Louise bought their winning ticket from a newsagent in Broseley, Shropshire.

Owner Barabara Homer said: "It was a great boost for the area and was really pleased. It's something you can only dream of and you never think it will happen locally."

Her husband John described Keith as "a lovely man".

He added: "It may sound strange, but winning the money was probably the worst thing that could have happened to him.

"It's very sad."

Local councillor Les Winwood, a friend of Keith, added: "He knew he'd made mistakes with the money but was never bitter and was a great man to know. He had a lot of friends."

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