10 June 2023 , 22:35
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A man who became a multimillionaire overnight in 2005 died just five years later, after his marriage broke down and he turned to alcohol.
Bakery worker Keith Gough thought all his problems were over when he scooped a £9million Lotto jackpot.
He and wife Louise and splashed out on flash cars, racehorses and a £350,000 VIP box at his beloved Aston Villa.
But genial Keith also developed a taste for booze - and slowly began to turn his massive windfall into a one-way ticket to tragedy.
After a long spell of heavy drinking his 25-year marriage finally broke down and he checked into a rehab clinic.
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Speaking in 2009, just a year before his death, Keith told reporters the win had "ruined his life".
"Without routine in my life I started to spend, spend, spend. In the end I was just bored.
"Before the win all I would drink was some wine with a meal. I used to be popular but I've driven away all my friends. I don't trust anyone any more.
"When I see someone going in to a newsagent, I advise them not to buy a lottery ticket."
Keith was a broken man when he died aged just 58 at Telford's Princess Royal Hospital, having been ill for some time.
The dad-of-one had given up his job at a local bakery following the Lottery win.
He and then wife Louise swapped their modest £160,000 semi in Bridgnorth, Shrops, for a plush £500,000 detached house in nearby Westgate.
But after they split up he was targeted in Birmingham's Priory clinic by scam artist and convicted fraudster James Prince, who befriended him, before starting to bleed him dry.
Keith's ex-wife Louise, 58, had played the Lottery since it started, despite never winning more than £104.
But even after they separated in 2007, she still gave him a further £1.5million.
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Most of which he ended up handing over to his smooth-talking new pal.
Prince was jailed for three years and four months following the con, which took place between August 2006 and July 2008.
Chester crown court heard that trusting Keith was an "easy and vulnerable" victim.
Prince gave an impression of wealth, driving a black Bentley and wearing expensive jewellery despite being bankrupt.
He persuaded Keith to write cheques for bogus business ventures and spent the cash on his own lavish lifestyle.
Prince, who was described in court as a "parasite" was in debt to the tune of £144,000.
He visited the Goughs' home in Bridgnorth and convinced Keith to buy a nearby bungalow for £407,000 - which he had already arranged to rent out to his lover for £300 per month.
Prince had previously been convicted of obtaining property by deception, while his mother had to remortgage her home to help pay off a £25,000 debt for him.
A friend of Keith, who did not want to be named, said: "He always put a brave face on things but we all knew he was financially screwed. I know the stress of not being able to pay his way was weighing on his mind.''
Keith and Louise bought their winning ticket from a newsagent in Broseley, Shropshire.
Owner Barabara Homer said: "It was a great boost for the area and was really pleased. It's something you can only dream of and you never think it will happen locally."
Her husband John described Keith as "a lovely man".
He said: "He was larger than life, a smashing bloke who will be sorely missed."
He added: "It may sound strange, but winning the money was probably the worst thing that could have happened to him.
"It's very sad."
Local councillor Les Winwood, a friend of Keith, added: "He knew he'd made mistakes with the money but was never bitter and was a great man to know. He had a lot of friends."