I was just 16 when I scooped £1.8m – 18 years later I was surviving on Universal Credit… here’s my biggest regret
A LUCKY punter dubbed the UK’s youngest lotto winner, scooped a life-changing £1.8million jackpot – but ended up living on Universal Credit.
The incredible windfall should have been life-changing for 16-year-old Callie Rogers, but she has now revealed her biggest regrets as things spiralled out of control.
She had been working as a shop assistant in Cumbria for just £3.60 an hour when she became one of Britain’s youngest ever winners – but it came at a price.
“You’re only 16, with all that responsibility. At that age, you can get the best advice ever but you’re not in a position to listen,” Callie explained.
“I was too young. Overnight I went from carefree child to adult.”
As most teens would have fallen into the same trap, Callie didn’t make the most responsible choices with her whopping jackpot.
The 16-year-old rapidly blew around £300,000 on designer clothes, and splashed more cash on a house.
Much of the winnings were funneled into lavish parties and not one – but three boob jobs.
The generous youngster also handed away thousands to family and friends.
But, Callie’s fortune ultimately led to serious issues with her mental health.
The young woman sadly tried to take her own life just five years after hitting the jackpot.
She struggled with depression, drugs and feeling isolated from the closest people in her life due to trust issues around her winnings.
Callie “just wanted to go back to having a normal life” and quickly self-destructed – destroying any possibility of leading a lavish lifestyle.
National Lottery’s Camelot stated they did give the young winner support to help manage her finances after the win in 2003.
A spokesperson said: “Callie received extensive support from us which lasted many years. She didn’t take up the independent financial and legal advice offered by us.
“However, our winner’s team fully supported her and helped her to handle media interest. We will continue to support Callie in any way we can if she wants.”
But, by 2021 Callie declared bankruptcy and began surviving on Universal credit.
She now supports herself with a job as a carer and went back to school to study social care.
‘ONE BIG REGRET’
Nearly two decades later, Callie is now the mum to a six-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy which has limited his ability to walk, talk and swallow.
She said: “But it’s my one big regret is that the money isn’t here for Blake.
“He loves sensory stimulation. If I had that money, I’d give him the biggest sensory room you could buy.”
She currently lives in a humble £400-a-month house in a cul-de-sac in Workington, and does her food shop at Iceland.
The mum-of-three said: “My kids don’t want for anything.
“At the end of the month there is usually enough for a few treats, but I couldn’t go out and buy a new car tomorrow.
She added: “If I want a holiday, I have to save.”
This comes as many lottery winners say the influx of cash has led to their demise.
Despite hitting the jackpot, countless lotto scoopers have suffered astonishing tragedies – from divorces to losing everything they own.
A EuroMillions winner who scooped £45million lost his life of luxury after killing a gran on Christmas Day.
Matt and Cassey Topham bagged themselves the eye-watering win in 2012 and splurged on race cars, mansions, a helicopter, and even a zoo.
But, just two years later the couple’s lives changed forever once again.
Meanwhile, Lee Ryan, dubbed the “Lotto Lag”, won a £12.7 million windfall – but everything rapidly went downhill.
After two divorces and bad business decisions Lee was left with no pennies from the win.
Elsewhere, Lara Griffiths, from Leeds, explained her new fortune turned into the “darkest time” of her life.
After bagging the jackpot with her partner Roger, the lovebirds “fell out of love”.
The pair had a messy divorce after 14 years of marriage with Lara claiming Roger had an affair with his pal, but he denied it.