£5m Lotto rapist admits to £13,000 benefit fraud

A convicted rapist who won nearly £5m on the lottery has admitted fraudulently claiming around £13,000 in benefits.

Edward Putman pleaded guilty to two counts of benefit fraud before St Albans Magistrates’ Court in Hertfordshire.

The 47-year-old continued applying for housing benefit and income support after receiving his windfall in September 2009, even writing letters to the Department for Work and Pensions and his local council claiming he was broke and could not even afford to eat.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In reality Putman, who was convicted of rape in 1993, was living the high life, splashing out on two sports cars and a new house.

Magistrates said the offences were too serious for sentencing under the powers available to them, and freed Putnam on bail to appeal before a Crown Court judge on July 24.

The court heard Putman began receiving income support in 2000 on the basis of his being incapacitated by anxiety issues.

In mitigation, the court heard Putman, of Station Road, Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, had admitted his deceit during questioning and had now paid back the money he owed in full.