Ex-husband wins share in Lotto win

Judge Mr Justice Mostyn concluded that the prize was “non-matrimonial property” but when the woman used some of it to buy a house she converted “part of her non-matrimonial assets into matrimonial property”.

He said he thought that his decision was the first ruling on the treatment of a lottery prize “in financial remedy proceedings following divorce” by a judge in England.

The judge, who announced his decision after a private hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London, ruled that the porter should get a lump sum of £85,000.

He said the porter had actually lived in the house for a “relatively short period” and was not entitled to anything like an equal share of its value.

The judge, who delivered a written ruling, said neither the porter nor his ex-wife could be identified.

“In this case I (had) to consider the treatment to be awarded to a lottery prize of £500,000 in financial remedy proceedings following divorce.

“There have been at least five reported decisions on the subject in Australia. To my knowledge there has been no reported decision on the subject here.”

He said the couple, both in their 50s, were married more than 25 years ago and separated several years ago.

The wife collected a £500,000 lottery prize more than a decade ago and bought a £275,000 house in London, which was now thought to be worth nearly £500,000. The couple lived in the house for about three years.