Lottery win blamed for sex offences
Last Updated: Thursday 17th June 2010, 15:12
A lottery winner has blamed his win on sex offences he has been imprisoned for. The convicted sex offender admitted running a paedophile ring via mobile phones but blamed winning the UK Lotto for his actions in court. Carl Gardner, 30 from Norwich pleaded guilty to five child sex offences but said it was because he has lost control of his life after winning £50,000 on the UK Lotto.
Gardner won the lottery prize three years ago and used his win to buy mobile phones and computer equipment. He was already on a sex offenders’ programme and was well known in the area, recently he was caught after a chatroom website told police about child abuse content at the site.
His lottery win will be no use to him now as he starts a 3-year prison sentence after being sentenced to five counts of sexual abuse against children.
Mr Gardner was already given a community order in 2006 for making indecent images. It was after this that Mr Gardner had a winning lottery ticket but nothing was suspected of the man until the police were informed of a topic of discussion on an internet chatroom.
Eight others have already been arrested in the sting as a result of this police enquiry and police have said there are still more under investigation.
As lottery winners stories go, this has to be one of the most bizarre and certainly the most bizarre excuse used in court by anyone for such a serious offence.
Tonight’s UK Lotto draw is a rollover and there is £7 million up for grabs, just be careful what you do with the winnings if you get lucky!