A lottery player has been charged with fraudulently claiming a £2.5 million payout almost a decade ago.
Edward Putman, 53, is accused of fraud by false representation after allegedly claiming the outstanding jackpot with a fake ticket, Hertfordshire Police said.
The £2,525,485 jackpot from a draw on March 11 2009, went unclaimed until shortly before the September 7 deadline the same year for it to be given to good causes, according to news reports at the time.
The winning ticket was reported to have been bought in the Worcester or Malvern areas of Worcestershire.
According to The Times, Putman has spent the last nine years living a luxurious lifestyle with two homes in the Home Counties.
One has 22 vans and cars parked outside.
The force’s serious fraud and cyber unit began investigating in 2015 after evidence emerged the claim was not legitimate.
Putman, of Station Road, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, was bailed to appear at St Albans Magistrates’ Court on October 16.