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Judge will rule on lottery prize Judge will rule on lottery prize
(41 minutes later)
A Swindon woman whose winning lottery ticket was found and cashed in by someone else should hear later if she will get any of the money back. A Swindon woman whose winning lottery ticket was found and cashed in by someone else should hear later if she will be able to collect the prize.
Dorothy McDonagh, 61, dropped the ticket on the floor of her local Co-op.Dorothy McDonagh, 61, dropped the ticket on the floor of her local Co-op.
It was found by Amanda Stacey, 34, and her husband Michael who cashed it in and spent half the £30,000 win.It was found by Amanda Stacey, 34, and her husband Michael who cashed it in and spent half the £30,000 win.
The couple were given 11-month suspended sentences for theft in April and now a judge will rule on who should keep the remaining cash. The couple received 11-month suspended sentences for theft in April. A judge at Swindon Crown Court will rule if Mrs McDonagh may keep the remaining cash.
The case came to light after Mrs McDonagh was able to prove to police that she had bought the winning Camelot ticket. Cleared debts
The case came to light after Mrs McDonagh was able to prove to lottery firm Camelot that she had bought the winning ticket.
However, by this time the couple who found the ticket had claimed the prize and spent about £15,000 clearing their debts.However, by this time the couple who found the ticket had claimed the prize and spent about £15,000 clearing their debts.
A spokesman for Camelot said: "We have a clear lost-and-found policy. If a member of the public finds the ticket they should send it to our prize payout department, setting out in writing the circumstances of the find and the steps they took [if any] to reunite the ticket with its rightful owner. Police froze the remaining £15,000 and brought charges against the couple.
A spokesman for Camelot said: "We have a clear lost-and-found policy.
"If a member of the public finds the ticket they should send it to our prize payout department, setting out in writing the circumstances of the find and the steps they took [if any] to reunite the ticket with its rightful owner.
"If no corresponding prize claim or lost ticket notice has been received, the prize may be paid to the finder at Camelot's discretion after the expiry of the 180-day claim deadline.""If no corresponding prize claim or lost ticket notice has been received, the prize may be paid to the finder at Camelot's discretion after the expiry of the 180-day claim deadline."