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Judge will rule on lottery prize Lottery fraudster to pay £15,000
(30 minutes later)
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. A Swindon woman whose winning lottery ticket was found and cashed in by someone else has been told she will be paid more than half the original 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. Michael and Amanda Stacey, 34, who spent half the money, were later given 11-month suspended sentences for fraud.
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. A judge at Swindon Crown Court ordered Michael Stacey to pay Dorothy McDonagh £15,111 - the £111 being interest on the payment.
Cleared debtsCleared debts
The case came to light after Mrs McDonagh was able to prove to lottery firm Camelot that she had bought the winning ticket because she had kept the receipt.The case came to light after Mrs McDonagh was able to prove to lottery firm Camelot that she had bought the winning ticket because she had kept the receipt.
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.
Police froze the remaining £15,000 and brought charges against the couple.Police froze the remaining £15,000 and brought charges against the couple.
HAVE YOUR SAY If it's cash on its own, with no means of identification, the next charity box gets lucky Megan, Cheshire Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY If it's cash on its own, with no means of identification, the next charity box gets lucky Megan, Cheshire Send us your comments
A spokesman for Camelot said: "We have a clear lost-and-found policy.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 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."