Lotto winnings claimant Susannah Hinte faces trial over alleged stolen purse | The Independent

A grandmother who staked a claim to a £33 million National Lottery jackpot is facing a criminal trial after being accused of stealing a purse and an Xbox controller.

Susanne Hinte, from Warndon, Worcester, pleaded not guilty to the offences last summer and is due back at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court in March.

The 48-year-old, who claims her Lotto ticket bearing the winning numbers was badly damaged in a washing machine, is alleged to have committed the offences by taking the items from a home in January last year.

Ms Hinte has not commented on the furore surrounding her lottery claim and is believed to have deleted her Facebook page.

Vinny Bolina, spokesman for West Midlands Crown Prosecution Service, said Ms Hinte had appeared in court under the name Suzanna Hint and was due to go on trial accused of theft on 1 March.

Lottery operator Camelot is investigating several hundred claims of lost, damaged or stolen tickets after revealing that a ticket which shared the record £66 million jackpot on 9 January was sold in Worcester.

Ms Hinte is reported to have presented her crumpled ticket – which had a damaged barcode and no visible date – at Ambleside News in Worcester in the hours after the announcement.

Camelot has yet to obtain CCTV footage from the shop but described a report that Ms Hinte’s claim had already been ruled out as “speculation”.

Shopkeeper Natu Patel, who runs the store, told the Press Association that he has not looked at the footage from the days leading up to the draw.

Mr Patel said: “It’s a question mark with a question mark. The CCTV is here and if Camelot want it they can have it.

“I’m not losing any sleep over it – Camelot’s system will tell them where the ticket was bought.”

In a statement, Camelot said it had not released details of the outlet where the winning ticket was purchased, and no retailer had been informed that they sold the winning ticket.

A Camelot spokeswoman added: “We would only release details of the shop if we received a valid claim and the ticket-holder subsequently took publicity”.

In a statement confirming the remaining winner had come forward, Camelot said: “The ticket-holder has opted to remain anonymous.

“Under its licence to operate The National Lottery, Camelot has a duty of care to protect the anonymity of all National Lottery winners. Therefore no further details will be released about this ticket-holder’s claim.”

A spokeswoman for the National Lottery said: “We’re delighted that the winner of this amazing prize has now come forward and we hope that they will enjoy their win.

“It would have been awful if the ticket-holder had missed out on this substantial and life-changing amount of money.”

Married couple David and Carol Martin, both 54, from Hawick in the Scottish Borders, won the other half of the massive payout from the 9 January draw.

PA