Keith builder and $15m lotto Terry Scott Woodall a free man as fraud charge dropped in SA court

He went bankrupt, won $15 million and has admitted not telling his creditors – but this Keith builder has now walked from court a free man, with the case dropped.

Terry Scott Woodall outside court. Picture: Mitch Mott

A Keith builder has walked from court a free man with all allegations he hid his $15 million lotto winnings from his bankruptcy creditors dropped – even though he admitted doing so.

In the District Court on Thursday, Commonwealth prosecutors withdrew their case against Terry Scott Woodall, ending a 10-year saga that has spanned multiple jurisdictions.

Mr Woodall, 54, stood quietly in the dock as prosecutors formally tendered no evidence against him, almost two years after he entered a guilty plea to a lesser charge.

Judge Ian Press told Mr Woodall he was free to go, and the former builder replied “thank you” – but declined to comment outside court.

Mr Woodall’s case has had a tortured passage through the bankruptcy and criminal courts.

In February 2013, he was declared bankrupt with $450,000 in debts, and ordered by a court to pay his creditors $337,000.

Then, in mid-2018, he won a $15 million lottery jackpot.

Between June 26 and August 29, 2018, Mr Woodall offered to clear his debts for $100,000 but creditors wanted $1,000,050 – which he paid to discharge the bankruptcy.

Prosecutors withdrew their allegations against Mr Woodall. Picture: Mitch Mott

In 2020, the Australian Financial Security Authority charged him with concealing property with intent to defraud creditors.

They alleged, in the District Court, his $100,000 offer to creditors amounted to trying to hide his massive windfall from them, which he denied.

In November 2021, Mr Woodall pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of being a bankrupt who concealed property to the value of $20 or more.

He entered his plea on the basis his actions were a mistake born of ignorance, not fraudulent intent, because he had not realised he was legally obliged to disclose the win.

Prosecutors accepted his plea and the case returned to the Adelaide Magistrates Court – which rejected his plea and ordered he stand trial for concealing property to defraud creditors.

In response, Mr Woodall – who has now cleared all of his debts and associated interest – withdrew his guilty plea to the lesser charge.

He also argued he should be reimbursed his legal costs as a result of the magistrate’s decision.

Commonwealth prosecutors, meanwhile, refused to consider finalising the case on the basis of the lesser charge, saying they had only accepted it for “expedience” during Covid-19.

On Thursday, Judge Press discharged Mr Woodall from his bail obligations.