I was thrilled when I won £1million lottery jackpot… but ‘glitch’ on screen meant I only got £10 – no one believes me
A MUM has been left fuming after believing she’d landed a £1million lottery jackpot – only to be told a “glitch” meant she’d won just £10.
Joan Parker-Grennan, from Boston in Lincolnshire, tried suing National Lottery operator Camelot – convinced she’d scooped the big win.
The jackpot giant argued a “technical issue” had meant Joan’s win was a mere fraction of what she’d thought.
But the mum was certain she was owed £1m – and even dragged herself through court twice.
To Joan’s disappointment, her case has again been thrown out by a judge – crushing any hopes of becoming a millionaire.
The High Court previously heard how Joan played online after buying an Instant Win Game ticket for £5 on August 25, 2015.
Camelot says that “at the point” Mrs Parker-Grennan bought her ticket, its computer system predetermined her prize to be £10.
However, the court heard that between August 25 and 26, 2015, there had been a “technical issue” which could result in “different graphical animations” being displayed on some players’ screens.
Two numbers with a designated prize of £10 were highlighted on Joan’s screen with a message saying: “Congratulations, you have won £10.”
But a judge heard that two other matching numbers – with a designated prize of £1 million – also appeared as a result of the technical issue.
Joan’s case had already been thrown out by the High Court, and this week the Court of Appeal did the same.
The court heard how it was someone else’s successful campaign that inspired Joan to try to get her hands on the cash she believed was hers.
James Couser, for Joan, said she only brought the case after Andrew Green successfully sued Betfred in 2021 to reclaim £1.7million.
Quoting his client, Mr Couser said: “I was told I couldn’t do anything about it – and somebody else has.”
Camelot pointed to its terms and conditions, which specified the prize was pre-determined at the point of purchase.
The small print read: “You are not required to exercise any skill or judgement to win a prize.”
Throwing out the lottery hopeful’s appeal, Lady Justice Andrews said in a written judgment: “However one looks at the matter, on the true construction of the contract, the appellant did not win £1m.”
It comes after a lottery winner from a council estate won a £10million jackpot before losing it all in tragic circumstances.
John McGuinness was working as a hospital porter when he won £10million in 1997.
Another EuroMillions winner has told how he finds his new lifestyle of mansions and supercars boring.
Neil Trotter, a mechanic from Coulsdon in south London, scooped a whopping £107.9m back in 2014 after telling all his friends and family that he would win big.
UK's biggest lottery winners
By Ethan Singh
- Anonymous winner – £195,707,000
A UK ticket-holder scooped the record EuroMillions jackpot of £195 million on July 19 2022 – the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
The holder, who remains anonymous to this day, amassed the fortune with just one lucky ticket.
- Joe and Jess Thwaite – £184,262,899.10
Britain’s previous EuroMillions record holders were Joe and Jess Thwaite.
The couple won a record-breaking £184million jackpot in May 2022 and shared hopes of a Hawaiian holiday and a new horse box for their children’s ponies.
Joe bought his winning ticket online on May 10, 2022, and the following morning received an email with good news.
As he learnt of the huge win, he was in disbelief and initially kept it for himself as he did not want to disturb his wife, who was sleeping.
Joe, a communications sales engineer, and Jess, who runs a hairdressing salon with her sister, have been married for 11 years and have two children.
- Colin and Chris Weir, £161,653,000
Colin and Christine Weir landed the colossal prize money in 2011 and were Europe’s second-biggest winners until someone in Italy won a jackpot worth £193m in 2019.
They splashed the cash at an astounding rate of £100,000 a week before tragedy struck.
But at the time of Colin’s death in December 2019 his share of the prize money had dwindled by around £40m.
He spent the millions living a life of luxury, forking out for sports cars, property and the football club he supported.
Colin and Christine divorced shortly before his death after being married for 38 years.
He left money for their children Carly and Jamie.
- Adrian and Gillian Brayford – £148,600,000
Adrian and Gillian won 190 million euros in a EuroMillions draw in August 2012, which came to just over £148 million.
But Adrian split from Gillian the following year because of the stress of the win.
The couple bought a Grade II listed estate in Cambridgeshire, complete with cinema and billiards room, but it was sold in 2021.
After divorcing in 2013, he failed to woo ex-sausage factory worker Marta Jarosz — but fell for stable girl Sam Burbidge.
She left him in 2017, taking 30 prize horses Adrian bought.
It might have worked out in the end for Adrian though as the former postman was seen smiling with ambulance worker Tracey Biles last year.
- Frances and Patrick Connolly – £114,969,775
Former social worker and teacher Frances set up two charitable foundations after she and her husband hit the jackpot.
They scooped almost £115 million on New Year’s Day 2019.
She estimates that she has already given away £60 million to charitable causes, as well as friends and family.
- Richard and Debbie Nuttall – £61,000,000
The couple from Colne, Lancashire, took home £61 million on January 30 2024.
Both 54, they were enjoying a holiday in Fuerteventura, celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary.
But they then discovered the big EuroMillions win.
Richard revealed they originally thought they had won £2.60, but then received another email telling the pair to check their account.
Other eye-watering anonymous winners:
- 2019 – £123million
Another anonymous winner scooped up a prize of £123,458,008 in the June Superdraw rollover.
- 2021 – £122million
Following nine rollovers, one ticketholder bagged the £122,550,350 jackpot last April.
The successful participant chose to remain anonymous.
- 2018 – £121million
Another anonymous winner found their fortune during the Superdraw jackpot rollover in April 2018, securing £121,328,187.