In the quiet town of Spalding, Lincolnshire, a simple trip to the store turned into a life-changing moment for a couple.
Michael Cartlidge, 39, and Charlotte Cox, 37, had been dating for only three months when they decided to try their luck with a Lotto scratch card.
Neither of them could have predicted that the ticket would bring them a massive £1 million ($1.3 million) windfall.
However, what should have been a joyous occasion quickly turned into a bitter feud that is now threatening to escalate into legal action.
Cartlidge, a security engineer, recalls the moment in the shop, claiming he played an equal role in the purchase.
“We were in the shop, and I went on my Halifax app because I didn’t have my bank card. I started the transfer, I held it up to show her,” he said.
He insists that the CCTV footage from the shop, which was reviewed by the lottery operator Camelot, confirms his claim.
Cartlidge firmly believes that without him, Cox would never have purchased the winning ticket.
Meanwhile, Cox, a mother of one, argues that she was the one who physically paid for and scratched the card.
According to her, that alone makes her the rightful owner of the entire jackpot, a stance that has fueled the ongoing battle.
Shortly after their incredible win, the couple’s relationship abruptly ended, throwing the winnings into question.
While Cox decided to move on from the relationship, Cartlidge expected a fair share of the money they had won together.
At first, it seemed like Cartlidge might have had a valid claim, as the original lottery operator, Camelot, reviewed the situation.
Cartlidge claims that Camelot initially ruled in his favor, stating that the winnings should be split equally.
However, things took a dramatic turn when the National Lottery’s operations were taken over by a new company, Allwyn.
Under the new management, the decision was reversed, with Allwyn ruling that Cox was the sole winner of the jackpot.
A spokesperson from the National Lottery confirmed the ruling, citing the official rules governing scratch card games.
“The National Lottery Rules for Scratchcard Games make clear that only one person can be the owner of a ticket,” they explained.
“And that only the person whose name and address is written on the back of a winning scratchcard can claim a prize.”
With this ruling, Cartlidge was effectively cut off from the winnings, prompting him to consider taking legal action.
“I am in shock,” he admitted. “I know it was her bank account that paid for it, but it should go 50-50 morally.”
On the other hand, those supporting Cox argue that there is no case to be made and that the money belongs to her alone.
One source close to Cox stated, “One million pounds has never brought so much misery. It’s ruined the last three months for her and her family.”
The source also added, “Mike has no right to this money. Charlotte won, she paid for the ticket and she scratched the ticket. The case is closed.”
The messy dispute highlights the dangers of sudden wealth and how money can tear people apart rather than bring happiness.
What started as an exciting win has now led to a bitter fallout, leaving Cartlidge with nothing and Cox with a legal battle ahead.
Now, the former couple must either settle the matter privately or take the fight to court, where a final decision will be made.
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