Court releases photos of $22m lottery winner Joshua John Winslet’s ‘party house’
An ex-plumber’s life-changing win led to other drug users running amok in his “party house” and leaving it in absolute chaos. See the shocking photos.
West & Beaches
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A $22m lottery winner’s “party house” was in a state of chaos after he allowed his druggie friends to run amok, court photos reveal.
Joshua John Winslet, 27, was a “free ride” for other drug users after his “hedonistic” lifestyle led to his downward spiral.
The District Court heard police attended Winslet’s New Port home on August 30, 2020 on information that drugs were being manufactured there.
They located 2.27g of cocaine on him, as well as 23.9 grams of MDMA in a safe in one of the bedrooms.
Police also found a further 4.4g of MDMA in the wardrobe, as well as a Mauser handgun and ammunition in a manhole in the bathroom.
Winslet pleaded guilty to supplying MDMA and possessing a firearm without a licence.
The court heard Winslet won over $22m in the Powerball in 2017.
“You stopped working and over time, you slipped into regular drug use,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing.
“Because of the money that you had won, there was no motivation on your part to work or do anything other than enjoy yourself.”
The court heard Winslet was “hopelessly drug addicted” at the time of the offending and hanging around with the wrong people, which he allowed to “run amok” in his house.
“You had lots of money so you could afford to buy large amounts of drugs, which you would use yourself and supply to your so-called friends from time to time,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing.
“You, in many ways, were a free ride.
“One of your so-called friends brought the firearm and ammunition … to your house and stored it in your roof.”
During sentencing submissions in July, David Edwardson QC, for Winslet, told the court drug users had used his premises as a “party house”, which is why it was found in an “appalling” state.
Mr Edwardson told the court Winslet’s parents managed his winnings through a trust fund, but he used some of the money to accumulate a number of properties, both in South Australia and New Zealand.
The court heard Winslet, who previously worked as a plumber, had a “wake up call” after realising he was facing potential jail time.
Judge Barklay sentenced Winslet to three years and nine months, with a non-parole period of 18-months.
“Although winning the Powerball was incredibly positive in many ways, the downside … is that you lost motivation in life and contented yourself with living a hedonistic lifestyle punctuated by drug use,” he said.
“The firearm, in this case, was in your house where people were taking drugs and carrying on.
“This increased the likelihood of the firearm being used, at least by others, for an unlawful purpose.”
The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision.
On Thursday, a lucky South Australian woman scooped the entire $40m jackpot, hours after joking with a friend about winning Powerball.
The Snowtown mum’s 50-game QuickPick was the only winning entry around Australia.
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