British Couple's Lottery Win Turns Sour As Partner Refuses To Share Rs 10 Crore Prize

A British couple, Michael Cartlidge, 39 and Charlotte Cox, 37, experienced an overnight windfall, winning a lottery jackpot of 1 million pounds (approximately Rs 10.48 crore). However, their joy quickly turned sour when Charlotte Cox adamantly refused to share the winnings with her boyfriend, arguing that he had ‘no right’ to her money. Cartlidge contended that since he had paid for the scratchcard, the prize money should be split evenly between them, a sentiment not shared by Cox.

The ensuing legal battle between the couple concluded with the National Lottery organisation declaring Cox as the sole winner of the Lotto scratchcard prize. Despite Cartlidge’s claims, there was no legal contract regarding the division of the winnings, leading to Cox being recognised as the rightful recipient of the prize money.

As per reports from the Daily Star, Cartlidge revealed that he had been living with Cox for three months. Cox had purchased the lotto scratchcard in her name, but Cartlidge maintains that he transferred the money for the purchase. “She said she didn’t have the money to spend on scratchcards, but I said I’d transfer the money. We were in the shop and I went on my Halifax app because I didn’t have my bank card,” Cartlidge explained to The Sun. Cox bought two tickets in her name and upon scratching them at home, the couple was astonished to find matching numbers on one of the scratchcards.

The couple had plans to invest the winnings in a house, bed and car. However, Cartlidge was blindsided when Cox abruptly asked him, through a friend, to leave, prompting him to depart while taking the scratch card with him.

Following an investigation by Camelot UK Lotteries, it was confirmed that Cartlidge had indeed transferred the money for the scratchcard, as evidenced by CCTV footage. However, Cox maintained to lottery officials that she had purchased the ticket independently, without any contribution from Cartlidge. A close friend of Cox lamented that her three months living with Cartlidge had been wasted.

Lottery official Allwyn later clarified to The Sun that scratchcard game rules stipulate that only one person can own a ticket, with the prize awarded solely to the individual whose name and address are registered on the back.