Jailed Lottery fraudster could be set for £350,000 windfall behind bars

28 September 2023 , 19:41

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Edward ­Putman (Image: Sunday Mirror)

Jailed lotto fraudster Edward ­Putman could bank £355,000 from the sale of his seized home.

The conman who forged a winning ticket to steal £2.5million in 2009 paid off just £94,000 of a £939,000 confiscation order. His home was taken off him when he refused to give back the cash and has sold for £1.2million at auction. There are fears Putman could have more than £355,000 left after settling his debt.

However, the court has the power to increase the value of the ­confiscation order. More than 400 bids from across the globe were lodged as the property and adjoining land, in Kings Langley, Herts, was sold under the Proceeds of Crimes Act.

The run-down house, near the M25, was damaged in a blaze last October with photos showing a large hole in the roof. There were at least 20 cars and vans parked up alongside caravans and mobile homes on the land. Before the auction, the property was valued at £700,000 but experts said the land next to the house made it appealing for developers.

Putman’s home in Kings Langley

James Ashworth, of Landwood Property Auctions, said: “The property exceeded our expectations with more than one bid per second. The competition generated was fantastic and it will be interesting to see what the buyer does with it.”

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Putman, 57, was jailed for nine years in 2019 for his role in the lotto fraud, which he concocted with Camelot employee Giles Knibbs, of the company’s fraud detection unit. Knibbs made a fake ticket and Putman submitted it, claiming he found it in his van days before the six-month time limit to claim.

The former bricklayer was caught when Knibbs took his own life in 2015 after confessing to family. After his suicide, police found notes detailing the fraud and a probe was opened. It closed when Camelot was unable to locate the ticket but reopened in 2017 when the ticket was found.

At a hearing at St Albans crown court in January last year, judge Philip Grey confirmed Putman had benefitted by £2,525,495, ordering him to repay £939,782.44. The Crown Prosecution Service said last night: “In any given case, if there is a surplus following the sale of assets, we will always review the Confiscation Order and, where appropriate, apply to increase the order, until the full criminal benefit has been repaid.” Putman was previously jailed for seven years in 1993 for raping a pregnant 17-year-old girl.

James Ashworth, Landwood Property Auctions director said: ”Proceeds of Crime disposals form a large part of our daily operations. Its properties such as these that always generate a lot of interest.

“That said, this property exceeded expectations with more than one bid per second - with close to 400 total bids amounting to a sale of nearly £700,000 more than the guide price.

“At Landwood we’re proud to deal with a range of Proceeds of Crime sales and we are always happy to help recover funds for the public purse and help compensate victims of crime.

“We have become experts in this field and our thorough approach ensures we get the highest number of possible bids and the best returns for the Courts who ensure the full criminal benefit is repaid.”

Martin Fricker