Rapist with fake ticket claiming £2.5m lottery jackpot released early

Builder Eddie Putman, 58, who served just four and a half years of a nine-year prison sentence for using a fake lottery ticket to claim a £2.5 million jackpot, has been released early, much to the dismay of friends of his accomplice Giles Knibbs, who tragically took his own life in 2015. Knibbs was exploited by Putman and later committed suicide, while Putman now walks free. Putman was convicted in 2019 and ordered to pay £939,000 before his home in Kings Langley, Herts, was seized by prosecutors. However, the actual whereabouts of the remaining money remain unknown.

Putman and Knibbs, who initially met through property development dreams, concocted a plan to steal the £2.5 million jackpot on March 11, 2009, which has not been claimed to this day. Putman used a forged ticket, claiming he found it under his van’s seat, to dupe Camelot into believing he was the winner. Knibbs ultimately confessed to friends about their fraudulent scheme before his death. Their falling out was over the division of the ill-gotten gains, with Putman reportedly withholding Knibbs’ share, leading to arguments and Knibbs’ suicide.

While Putman managed to avoid public scrutiny following his fraudulent lottery scheme, his fraud unravelled in 2012 when he was convicted for falsely claiming government benefits. Despite Knibbs’ death, Putman continued to spend lavishly, giving out cash and expensive gifts to friends. After his lie was exposed, he was convicted of fraud following a trial. Although additional time was not added to his sentence for not repaying the confiscation order, offenders released on license remain under strict supervision and can face recall to prison if they breach conditions.

The early release of Putman has sparked outrage among friends of Knibbs, who feel that justice has not been served, especially since Knibbs took his own life after being exploited and cheated by Putman. The question of what happened to the lottery money remains unanswered, highlighting the devastating consequences of Putman’s greed and deceit. Despited being released, Putman has been convicted of a crime that struck at the integrity of the National Lottery, and his actions have undermined public trust in the lottery system. The saga involving Putman and Knibbs is a tragic tale of greed, manipulation, and betrayal, leaving a trail of heartbreak and unanswered questions in its wake.