I ‘won’ £3million jackpot but never got the money – ‘torturous’ blunder broke up my marriage

A MAN who “won” a £3million jackpot but never got the money has revealed how the “torturous” blunder broke up his marriage.

Martyn and Kay Tott, from Hertfordshire, bought a winning National Lottery ticket but a huge mistake left them with nothing.

Mirrorpix

Mirrorpix

The lovebirds were overjoyed when they realised they had bought an unclaimed prize worth a whopping £3million in 2001.

But their happiness quickly faded away when they couldn’t find the winning ticket.

The couple was sure they had won because the jackpot numbers matched the ones they used every week.

After confirming they had purchased the ticket at their local Londis, the thrilled pair rushed to tell Lottery organiser Camelot to claim their prize.

What should have been a life-changing win ended in a never-ending nightmare when they were told they couldn’t get the cash.

They fell victim to a little-known rule stating lost tickets must be reported within 30 days – and their window had passed.

All we did was bicker – sadly, both of us agreed we should split and Kay moved out

After 45 days of deliberation, Camelot told the devastated couple they would not be bagging the jackpot.

Martyn told the Mail on Sunday: “Having that money taken away was torture.

“For a long time, I lost sight of who I was and what I believed in.

“There is no guarantee it would have brought me happiness.”

PLEA FOR HELP

After the heartbreaking blunder, the couple launched a public campaign for help.

They managed to take on board celebrities who voiced their support – including Richard Branson and Tony Blair.

Sir Richard flew the couple out to his privately-owned Necker Island for a week in an attempt to cheer the couple up.

Blair’s wife Cherie Booth QC offered her legal opinion at a reduced rate but found the case wasn’t worth pursuing.

Despite their efforts, Camelot didn’t budge.

The horrifying misfortune caused Martyn and Kay’s marriage to break down.

He added: “We’d only known each other for two years and the Lottery ordeal quickly highlighted our differences.

“All we did was bicker. Sadly, both of us agreed we should split and Kay moved out.”

BROKEN MARRIAGE

Kay was forced to move out of their home in Hertfordshire, while Martyn quit his job.

Martyn wrote an autobiography about the shocking experience while living off dwindling savings.

The man then decided to turn to Christianity and in 2003 began a relationship with an American woman called Tanya.

Martyn went to stay with Tanya in Nashville, Tennessee, where she introduced him to a church group led by a “self-appointed Apostle”.

He tried to join the church permanently but returned to the UK after discovering all members had to pay 10 per cent of their income to the church leader.

In March 2007, six years after the lotto ordeal began, Martyn’s lawyers brought the case against Camelot in London’s High Court.

Martyn was warned he would have to pay Camelot’s £400,000 legal fees if he lost.

His wealthy sponsor, Jonathan Bunn, then pulled out.

And Martyn was suddenly faced with the fact he would never see his lost millions.

Two years later, he published his novel, Six Magic Numbers.