Two UK lottery jackpot millionaires were jailed for different crimes when they appeared at the same court Thursday.
A judge told Surinder Singh, a 53-year-old drug addict and dealer, that he was "not all persuaded" that the £2.1 million (US$4 million) the chip shop owner had won on the National Lottery would ensure he kept out of trouble in the future and jailed him for nine months.
Less than two hours later, Melvyn Howlett, a 45-year-old businessman who won £1.2 million (US$2.3 million), was sentenced to three months by a different judge for trying to smuggle 14,000 pouches of tobacco into the country.
"We've never had the pleasure of having a Lotto winner in the dock here before," said one official at Maidstone Crown Court, "and then, like the buses, two come along together."
Singh was arrested in December, 2003, months before his lottery win, after police found amphetamines, cannabis and cocaine when they raided his shop and restaurant in Ashford.
Apart from the prison term, Singh, who was described in court as "an habitual drug user", was ordered to pay back £3,124 he had earned through selling drugs.
Later in the afternoon, Howlett - described as a businessman who had "never lost the love for a good deal" despite his Lotto win - looked stunned as he was sent to prison.
Howlett, who has homes in Blackburn and Florida, was arrested at Dover after Customs officers found the tobacco stashed in a secret compartment of a camper van as he disembarked from a cross-Channel ferry in February last year.
He claimed that he had been stocking up on the tobacco to hand out free to guests at party to celebrate his win. He was found guilty of trying to evade £20,000 of excise duty.
They ought to teach a course to lottery winners on how to stay out of trouble with the law after a big win. LOL
Wealth has certainly never deterred anyone from criminal activity in the past. No reason to expect it would do so now. The only real difference is that these particular wealthy folks hadn't had time to learn how to do their crimes without going to the slammer.
That's the series of courses that are needed. "How to hire a good lawyer 101", "How to pay off the prosecutors and judges 201", "How to appear contrite, innocent and righteously indignant before juries 301".
It probably worked against them, winning the lottery and not having done large enough crimes to stay out of jail for. The judge could posture a bit and present the illusion of even handedness against the wealthy, the newspaper reading public could hug themselves and have the fact they live in a country with an even handed criminal justice system, win win for everyone.
There's nothing about winning the lottery to bestow good sense on losers. Likely as not going to jail won't do it, either.
They ought to teach a course to lottery winners on how to stay out of trouble with the law after a big win. LOL
What's the matter with these people? $1-2 million isn't enough for them?
Well you know every country's got to have one. Of course we have ol' Jack. By the way where is he now?
They ought to teach a course to lottery winners on how to stay out of trouble with the law after a big win. LOL
Wealth has certainly never deterred anyone from criminal activity in the past. No reason to expect it would do so now. The only real difference is that these particular wealthy folks hadn't had time to learn how to do their crimes without going to the slammer.
That's the series of courses that are needed. "How to hire a good lawyer 101", "How to pay off the prosecutors and judges 201", "How to appear contrite, innocent and righteously indignant before juries 301".
It probably worked against them, winning the lottery and not having done large enough crimes to stay out of jail for. The judge could posture a bit and present the illusion of even handedness against the wealthy, the newspaper reading public could hug themselves and have the fact they live in a country with an even handed criminal justice system, win win for everyone.
There's nothing about winning the lottery to bestow good sense on losers. Likely as not going to jail won't do it, either.
Jack
Yeah, how is Jack doing?
maybe jack could afford better lawyers
A norwegian saying goes like this: "mye vil ha mer, og faen vil ta fler"
Wage english translation: "much wants more and the devil will score".
Or as the english saying go: "much wants more, and loses all".
Sounds similar to the Guy Clark song: "Too much just ain't enough."
Jack
too much is definitely enough for me though,i'd be satisfied
Just like Jack?
i wouldn't be like jack......i'd be thankful and careful