Tale of couple who won £1.8m on the lottery and fell apart after spending it all

17 February 2023 , 19:59

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Roger and Lara Griffiths scooped £1.8million in 2005 (Image: Ross Parry Picture Agency)

A married couple who won £1.8million on the lottery were tragically torn apart after losing it all - and started blaming each other for it.

After Roger and Lara Griffiths scooped the huge prize in 2005, they decided to give up their jobs as IT manager and teacher.

They bought a large luxury barn conversion in North Yorkshire which cost £800,000.

However, the value of the property plummeted when the housing crisis hit - as did a beauty salon they purchased.

As well as the property they bought, Roger also used £25,000 to fund a record with his old band from university.

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The couple finished all their homey by 2013 (PA)

Within weeks, Roger had bought an £18,000 soft-top Audi, and Lara had booked them a trip to Dubai, flying business class and staying in a five-star hotel.

"We must have spent £15,000 in ten days," Roger said.

"She liked handbags, she liked shopping. She spent a lot of time at Louis Vuitton."

Roger also had his teeth whitened, bought designer clothes "to look cooler", and spent £300 a time on Botox, and more than £500 on tattoos - including the word "Lara" on his bicep, reports the Daily Star.

But just eight years after winning the prize, in 2013, all of the couple's money had gone and so had their relationship.

When the couple split after being married for 14 years, they blamed each other for their financial loss.

The couple split after 14 years of marriage (BBC)

They blamed each other for their financial loss (COPYRIGHT UNKNOWN)

Mum-of-two Lara told the Daily Mail: "This really was the house of our dreams.

"We were absolutely thrilled to be able to buy something like this. Who wouldn't be? It’s lovely.

"Let me tell you, winning the lottery is not all it's cracked up to be. Most people end up worse off in some way, and no one has any sympathy because you won the money instead of earning it."

Roger Griffiths denied he cheated on Lara (Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)

She added: "I'm not even back to square one, I’m much worse off than before the win."

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Lara also accused Roger of being unfaithful after finding an email in which he asked for another woman's phone number - a claim he strongly denies.

"She went absolutely ballistic," Roger told the Daily Mail.

"It was the catalyst for me to think: 'I really don't want to be in this relationship anymore.'"

Joshua Smith