Missing jackpot winner found and it’s not the ‘Lotto Gran’ who claimed she washed ticket

THE nan at the centre of the $67 million Lotto riddle sent a string of saucy selfies to a lorry driver — then begged him for cash.

THE UK’s $67 million (£33 million) mega jackpot winner has been found, and it’s not the gran who said she put her ticket in the wash.

Hundreds had come forward claiming to have won the unclaimed half of a record £66m prize, but the rightful winner — who bought the ticket in Worcester — has chosen to remain anonymous, UK lotto operator Camelot revealed.

The second winning ticket from the January 9 draw was not submitted under the “lost, stolen, destroyed, or damaged policy” — meaning the lucky winner was not ‘Lotto gran’ Susanne Hinte.

A National Lottery spokesperson 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. We would like to remind all National Lottery players to check their tickets every time they play.”

Ms Hinte claimed she had put the winning ticket through the washing machine. The six winning numbers were still visible, but the barcode, date and serial number were all missing.

Lottery bosses warned that anybody who maliciously attempted to claim they had won could face fraud charges, the Daily Mail reported.

The offence of fraud by misrepresentation carries a maximum penalty of ten years in jail.

“We can’t comment on any individual claims, but with a draw of this size a lot of people who might claim might genuinely think they have misplaced their ticket,” a spokesman for Camelot said.

Susanne Hinte said water damage had washed away the date, bar code and serial number on her ticket. Picture: Supplied

Two tickets matched the winning numbers to share the record-breaking lotto jackpot on Saturday January 9.

Husband and wife David and Carol Martin, both 54, from Hawick in the Borders, came forward as the joint winners. The other winning ticket holder had until July 7 to claim the cash or it would have gone to National Lottery projects.

Ms Hinte, who lives in Warndon, Worcester, less than two kilometres from the Ambleside News agency where the golden ticket was sold, was inundated with letters from strangers asking for a slice of the huge jackpot — despite the fact she had not received a penny.

The ticket had the winning numbers 26, 27, 46, 47, 52, 58 but water damage had washed away the date, the bar code and the serial number.

“I haven’t slept all night. Since I found it in my jeans pocket, my daughter and I have been drying it out with the hairdryer,” she said previously. “You can see 2016 but not the date.”

Meanwhile, at a press conference in Edinburgh the Scottish couple David and Carol Martin beamed as they announced they had won £33,035,323, their half of the record jackpot after 14 rollovers.

Bowie fan David said he plans to spend some of the windfall on blasting into space — as well as a new pair of shoes costing £200.

Carol vowed to leave Boots where she has worked for 20 years. David also aims to give up his job with a firm that kits out homes for old folk and the disabled.

Susanne Hinte as pictured on her Badoo dating profile.

LOTTO GRAN SENT TRUCKIE TOPLESS PIC

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the “money-mad” Ms Hinte sent a string of saucy selfies to a lorry driver — then begged him for cash.

Last night the trucker, who did not want to be named, revealed he first contacted “Sanne from Worcester” in November.

She pinged him topless snaps soon after getting in contact on an internet dating site. They enjoyed a drink and a “snog” but things turned ugly when he refused to be her “cash cow”.

The 41-year-old recalled: “It wasn’t long at all before she was sending me photos of herself which left little to the imagination.

“I thought she looked attractive and we met for a drink and a pub meal. I fancied her. We had a snog and planned to meet again.”

But he said German-born Susanne’s attitude then changed.

The single driver, from Burton-on-Trent, Staffs, said: “She was forever saying she was skint.

“She said she was flying back to Germany but needed £80 to get a coach to the airport. I was a bit smitten and agreed to transfer it.

“But in no time she was needing a phone and could I send another £80? This was a woman I met for about an hour.”

Image: Badoo

Image: Badoo

He told divorced Susanne he was not willing to become her “cash cow” as he barely knew her.

But she then accused him of boasting about his earnings in a string of garbled WhatsApp messages. One read: “Wwll y did u brag boit how much money u got and on credid cards.”

He said last night: “I felt I was being hustled and we ended it. My eyes popped out when I saw she claimed the Lottery. But I got the impression she was money-mad.”

Today it was revealed that Camelot had ruled out Susanne as the winner.

The company reportedly said she cannot claim the mega jackpot with her washing machine-destroyed ticket.

Camelot took the decision to not investigate CCTV footage at her local newsagent where she purchased the ticket.

The Sun reported yesterday that friends doubted Susanne, who was holed up at home last night. She is due before Birmingham magistrates in March on theft charges.

Life will look a little different for lotto winners David and Carol Martin. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire