In a notorious case of deceit and betrayal, a convicted fraudster who swindled the National Lottery out of a staggering £2.5 million by producing a forged ticket has now settled part of his financial obligations. However, a significant sum, exceeding £1 million, remains unpaid.
Edward Putman, aged 59, orchestrated the fraudulent scheme back in 2009, collaborating with Giles Knibbs, an insider at Camelot’s fraud detection unit. Knibbs fabricated a winning ticket, which Putman used to claim the jackpot.
Following the scam, Putman deceitfully cut Knibbs out of the proceeds. Overwhelmed by guilt, Knibbs confessed to his family and tragically ended his own life in 2015.
In 2019, Putman was sentenced to nine years in prison for his role in the con, but was released after serving only half of his sentence due to government measures aimed at alleviating overcrowding in prisons.
Since his release, the former builder from Hertfordshire has managed to pay off a £939,000 court-ordered debt, which was imposed at the time of his sentencing.
Additionally, lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service successfully seized £240,000 from the sale of his property in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire, further chipping away at his outstanding dues.
The property, a derelict home near the M25, eventually sold for £1.2million at auction.
Putman is also understood to have paid £85,000 in interest as part of the Proceeds of Crime Act order – but £1.25m is still unaccounted for, according to a freedom of information request, The Mirror reported.
Edward Putman, 59, was jailed for the scam he cooked up in 2009 with Lottery insider Giles Knibbs, who worked in Camelot’s fraud detection unit and made the fake ticket
Prior to his conviction for fraud, Putman was jailed for seven years for raping a pregnant 17-year-old in 1991, and nine months in 2012 for a £13,000 benefits fraud.
His rape victim described Putman as ‘a monster’ and said it was ‘typical’ that he had got away with not returning the money.
She told The Mirror: ‘[People] must see how dangerous, how crazy he is. He tricks, he lies, he abuses people.’
Years after his rape conviction, Putman undertook the lottery scam alongside Knibbs, using a forgery of a ticket to claim the winnings.
The pair had become friends after Putman did building work for Knibbs.
They were both said to have dreams of property development and hatched the audacious plan to steal £2.5m using a fake ticket.
The authentic winning ticket, which had the numbers 6, 9, 20, 21, 31 and 34, had been purchased at a Co-op shop in Worcester.
But Putman and Knibbs’ forgery was accepted despite missing the bottom half and having no barcode, and the crook received millions.
The former bricklayer told Camelot he had found it under the seat of his van and claimed it days before the six-month time limit
Putman is also understood to have paid £85,000 in interest as part of the Proceeds of Crime Act order – but £1.25m is still unaccounted for
The former bricklayer told Camelot he had found it under the seat of his van and claimed it days before the six-month time limit.
After this, Putman was jailed for three months in 2012 after he was found guilty of fraudulently claiming £13,000 in benefits despite the lottery win.
He and his partner, Lita Stephens, now 68, allegedly lived a jet-set lifestyle, flying around the globe and buying multiple properties.
But his relationship with Knibbs deteriorated after his co-conspirator began to feel he had not received his fair share of the £2.5million prize.
The Camelot worker confessed what he had done to loved ones before taking his own life in 2015.
After his suicide, police found notes detailing the fraud, and an investigation was opened, but it was closed when Camelot could not locate the alleged forgery.
It was then opened again in 2017 when a Camelot employee finally located the ticket, and Putman was charged in 2019.
He was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to nine years in prison.
Passing sentence at the time, Judge Grey said the ‘sophisticated, carefully planned, and diligently operated fraud’ struck at the heart of the integrity of the National Lottery.
Today a friend of Mr Knibbs demanded to know what happened to the money that has not yet been paid back – and described the situation as ‘a scandal’.
They said: ‘Now Putman is free and able to move on with his life – Giles doesn’t get that chance.’
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