National Lottery jackpot winner died penniless

When we think about winning the lottery many of us imagine the house, the cars and the security of never having to work again but this isn’t always the case. One National Lottery jackpot winner died penniless following the breakdown of his marriage, being conned out of £700,000 and falling victim to alcoholism.

Keith Gough, 58, from Shropshire won £9 million playing the National Lottery back in 2005 but his lottery fortune turned bad as he developed a taste for alcohol. Lottery winner, Keith started drinking heavily, which just two years later is alleged to have broken down his marriage of 25 years.

Following the lottery windfall Keith started living the high-life buying expensive cars, racehorses, half a million pound houses and even an executive box at his beloved Aston Villa FC but even these lavish spending sprees weren’t the breaking of lottery winner Keith.

His troubles really started after he checked into the Priory Clinic in Birmingham. This is when he was befriended by conman and convicted fraudster James Prince. Prince encouraged the alcoholic lottery winner to drink more and more, convincing him to sign over nearly £700,000 for various fraudulent business deals and eventually left him penniless.

Following the cons and losing all of his money lotto winner Keith took up refuge living in the spare room at his nephew’s house, rarely going outside. Keith Gough died in Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital on Saturday following a suspected heart attack.

Lottery news stories about winners blowing their jackpots and becoming broke and miserable aren’t as uncommon as you may think but it doesn’t have to be this way for everybody. Some people don’t have the ability to manage such huge cash windfalls themselves and should seek professional advice before planning the lottery lifestyle. All winners of any large National Lottery prize are offered guidance and support from the National Lottery but ultimately it’s your responsibility.