Career criminals scoop £4m Lotto win but are refused payout because bosses think it was bought with ‘stolen bank card’

A £4MILLION scratchcard win by two convicted crooks is being probed by Lotto chiefs over fears it was bought with a stolen debit card.

Mark Goodram, 36, and Jon-Ross Watson, 31, have been on a four-day bender since the win in Clapham, South London.

But suspicious Camelot has so far refused to pay out the jackpot.

The two burglars set off alarm bells when they contacted Lotto officials to claim a £4million prize — and revealed that neither of them has a bank account.

Checks by Camelot revealed that the winning scratchcard was bought with a debit card — issued only with accounts.

Asked whose plastic it was, claimants Mark Goodram and Jon-Ross Watson named a mystery friend called “John” — but could not give his surname, address or phone number.

And while the payout was put on hold as Camelot investigates, the jubilant mates were on the lash — downing champagne and cocktails.

Goodram, 36, and Watson, 31 contacted The Sun to share their joy — showing us the £4Million Red scratchcard which cost £10 and an official pink receipt confirming it was a winner.

Goodram — with 22 convictions for 45 criminal offences — said: “I’m off to see the Queen. This is brilliant. I deserved a bit of a break. We’re made for life.

“I can’t wait to spend the lot. “I’m going to buy luxury properties and look after myself.”

HAPLESS CROOKS PROBED

Manchester United fan Watson, who has burglary convictions, said: “I’m off on a Caribbean cruise, then to Las Vegas. But I need a passport first.

“Mark and me have been mates since we were little. This win’s unbelievable but we deserve the money fair and square. We were screaming in the street.

“We’ve told family and friends about our win but no one believes us.”

The jobless pair told us they had the flutter with their last loose change.

Then they changed their story to suggest they had given an unnamed pal £10 to buy the scratchcard on his debit card. But they could not give his full name or contact number and said he had disappeared “up North”.

The Bolton-born chums have been sinking endless drinks in London after beating odds of 4,019,579/1 to win one of three maximum £4Million Red scratchcard payouts.

They said they bought the ticket at Waitrose in Clapham, South London, at 10.39am on Easter Monday.

But they were crest-fallen last night as Camelot had still not paid out. The Lotto operator refused to confirm or deny the jackpot win.

Officials are confident the scratchcard is genuine but want to ensure the debit card has not been stolen.

An insider said: “It’s possible to buy scratchcards using contactless payment, with the purchaser not required to provide identification.”
Goodram is understood to have been released on police licence from jail just days before the win.

He and Watson claimed they had no knowledge of a stolen debit card being used for the scratchcard.

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