Boyfriend claiming ex’s £1m Lotto scratch card winnings faces trial

A person claiming half his ex-girlfriend’s £1million Lotto scratch card winnings is dealing with trial for beating up one other former lover, MailOnline can reveal.

Michael Cartlidge, 39, is to seem in court docket accused of attacking Crystal Neary-Phillips and smashing up her iPhone 12 throughout a row final 12 months.

He denies two fees, assault by beating and prison harm, and can seem earlier than Lincoln Magistrates Court on April 18.

The incident is claimed to have occurred on April 15 final 12 months – six months earlier than he claimed to have scooped a joint jackpot with new girlfriend, Charlotte Cox.

Mr Cartlidge is now embroiled in a authorized battle with Ms Cox, 37, after claiming they purchased a profitable Lotto scratchcard collectively just for her to dump him weeks later and declare the prize for herself.

He admits that Ms Cox paid for and scratched the ticket however claims that he prompt the concept to purchase one and later transferred her the money to cowl the acquisition.

He says that the mother-of-one initially agreed to share the cash, however after strolling out on him modified her thoughts.

Lottery chiefs Camelot beforehand launched an investigation — which included viewing CCTV footage from a Nisa grocery store in Spalding, Lincolnshire, the place the profitable scratch card was purchased.

Mr Cartlidge had been hopeful that the cash can be cut up however new Lottery homeowners Allwyn have now dominated that Ms Cox is the rightful claimant.

Security engineer Mr Cartlidge maintains he has a proper to half the money and is contemplating launching authorized motion.

He advised The Sun: ‘I’m in shock. I can overtly admit that we would not have gotten that ticket with out Charlotte, however she would not have gotten it with out me both.

‘I do know it was her checking account that paid for it, but it surely ought to go 50-50 morally.’

Ms Cox, nevertheless, has hit again on the ‘garbage’ claims with a pal saying: ‘You cannot consider a phrase that man says.’

Meanwhile, final evening, the store assistant who bought the warring exes the cardboard weighed in on the talk – saying the jackpot needs to be cut up 50/50. 

The Nisa employee stated she clearly recalled regulars Mr Cartildge and Ms Cox, coming in and shopping for two playing cards.

And she claimed the store’s CCTV picked up Mr Cartlidge displaying her his cellphone, backing his declare that he tried to switch money to cowl the acquisition.

She stated: ‘I’m on nobody’s facet. I like them each. But I actually consider that the cash needs to be each of theirs.’

Ranjit Khela, who had served couple that day, advised MailOnline: ‘We are now known as the lucky-unlucky shop!’ 

Diplomatically and never desirous to be drawn into who was entitled to win and who not, he stated: ‘It’s a troublesome scenario. I knew the couple, each as native residents and prospects, who’ve since cut up up. ‘I recall them coming into the shop together, and this has since become a matter of contention for Camelot. 

‘I knew then as regulars and they seemed a friendly couple, and since all this they still come in separately.’ 

Mr Khela, whose prospects have been discussing the bitter-win in retailer, stated: ‘A £1million plus amount is an excellent amount to win and I am happy the ticket was bought in my shop. 

‘But for one it was lucky, for the pother not so we are the lucky-unlucky shop.’ 

The retailer boss recalled serving the couple – with their buy captured on CCTV – telling our web site: ’They got here in. collectively and made a couple of purchases and acquired some scratch playing cards. 

‘But I do not recall who made the purchase and paid for it ,and whether by card or cash, we are so busy here at times and it was a weekend night.’ 

Meanwhile in Ms Cox’s native pub regulars say she has advised them her ex will not obtain a penny. 

They advised MailOnline that she has already been to a automotive dealership and has her eye on a model new BMW.

One stated: ‘Charlotte’s had a tough time, and he or she’s struggled like many people, and we’re satisfied to bits that’s she’s gained 1,000,000. ‘It may not be much to some people but for her it is a life changing amount – It won’t change her as a person but it will change her lifestyle for the better, and good luck to her. She deserves it! 

’She was so excited once we all noticed her in right here yesterday, She had been to a close-by BWM dealership in both Boston or Peterborough and had simply purchased outright a luxurious model new BMW. 

’She was displaying us photos and was saying ‘I can’t consider I’m going to be proudly owning a spanking new prime quality automotive’ and we had been genuinely so completely satisfied for her.’ 

Ms Cox had been together with her ex for 3 months earlier than the Lotto drama began.

On the evening of the win final November, Mr Cartlidge had been dwelling at Ms Cox’s home in Spalding and so they determined to pop to their native Lidl to purchase duck pancakes for dinner.

He then claims he prompt to go to the Nisa subsequent door to purchase a few £5 scratchcards.

According to Mr Cartlidge, his former companion paid for 2 scratchcards as he had no money on him.

He tried to ship her cash for the scratch playing cards within the store by way of a financial institution switch app however the sign was dangerous and the fee didn’t undergo instantly.

To their amazement once they scratched off the playing cards again at residence, one landed them the £1million jackpot.

Forty minutes later, Mr Cartlidge stated his cash switch went by way of.

The couple celebrated their win with a visit to the seaside. They had a number of plans within the works corresponding to shopping for a home collectively and buying a automotive.

The ticket was put in Ms Cox’s identify, however stated the cash was due to enter a joint account.

But three weeks later, ‘out of the blue’, Mr Cartlidge obtained a name by way of one in all her mates telling him to go away the home.

He did simply that however fearing Ms Cox was as much as one thing, he took the profitable scratchcard with him to go and keep at his mom’s home close by.

Upon returning residence, Ms Cox realised the cardboard had been taken and obtained in contact with Camelot to get assist with the scenario.

Following some mediation, through which representatives from Camelot travelled to Lincolnshire to interview the pair individually concerning the dispute, they had been in a position to get the ticket again.

Mr Cartlidge stated that he spent Christmas Eve at Ms Cox’s home dressed up as Father Christmas, believing the pair had put the dispute behind them.

On January 25, a Camelot official despatched a message to the previous couple saying that the authorized staff had been nonetheless deciding what to do however {that a} draft was being ready relating to the sharing of the prize.

Yet on February 10, lower than two weeks since new proprietor Allwyn took over the operating of the National Lottery, Mr Cartlidge was despatched a letter saying he was not entitled to any cash.

According to Allwyn’s guidelines, solely the identify written on the again of the ticket can declare the prize.

In an announcement, the corporate stated: ‘The National Lottery Rules for Scratchcard Games clarify that just one individual might be the proprietor of a ticket and that solely the individual whose identify and tackle is written on the again of a profitable scratchcard can declare a prize.

‘This signifies that a prize can solely be paid to 1 individual and that is at all times communicated clearly to prize claimants.

‘Where a claimant agrees to share a prize with different events (for instance, gamers in a syndicate) after the prize has been paid, we at all times advocate {that a} authorized settlement is drawn up between the events.

‘If there isn’t a settlement in place, any dispute between the ­events must be resolved between themselves.’