I 'won' a jackpot that was too big to pay out, but I was devastated by what I got

A sad dad thought he had hit a £50,000 Lotto jackpot, only to find out the next day he had only won £2.

Nathan Moody, 25, was planning to buy a car and take his three children on holiday before the devastating news put a stop to his plans.

The loving father-of-three, from Billingham in County Durham, had an accidental dip in luck at his local corner shop in the hope of hitting a life-changing jackpot for his young family.

And he was beside himself when he took the ticket back to his local Low Grange Store, and the shopkeeper told him the winnings were so big he had to call Lotto head office.

Speaking with the The ChronicleNathan said: “It made a beeping noise to say I won. The store clerk was quite shocked.

'The machine told him it was a large payout and that I should contact the lottery head office.

“He gave me a pen and told me to write my name on the back of the card. Everyone in the store was over the moon for me.”

The happy father immediately started planning a vacation for his family and had his eye on a new whip to take care of his children.

Nathan added: “I spoke to my partner about sorting everything out and paying my bills.

'We could have gotten a nice car and helped my mom and dad.

“The most I have ever won is £100. I do it about once a month.”

But after having to wait up late that same night to check his Lotto app, things weren't as fruitful as first thought, and he would have to figure out a new way to meet his partner Charlotte and children Mason, seven, Kaci, five, and To take Jacobi with you. , two, on holiday.

Nathan said: “I waited until about 11pm to check the lottery app on my phone.

“When I checked it, it told me I had a free lucky dip.”

Unfortunately, Nathan had his ticket scanned during what is known as a “draw pause” – a period immediately after a draw when numbers and prizes are worked out by Camelot.

Devastated, Nathan went back to the store the next day to check again, but his luck had run out.

He said: “The machine beeped again and I got a free lucky dip.

'That was it, he took the card and gave me the printout that says I am entitled to a lucky dip. I didn't win any money.

“I was absolutely devastated. I couldn't talk, I was devastated.

“I knew it wasn't the £1million lottery but I assumed it was one of ten £20,000 prizes.”

A spokesperson for Camelot, which runs the National Lottery, confirmed that the ticket had been scanned and the National Lottery terminal displayed the following message: “Results not received. Return the ticket to the player and tell the player to check it another day.”

He described the message as “completely normal” and until this “draw pause” is over, no prizes can be awarded.

He's not the only disappointed lotto player either; gamblers across the country have racked up fake wins that they hoped would change their lives.

One couple thought they had collected a whopping £182 million, but when they were told there was a payment problem they were unable to claim the prize.

And due to a silly mistake, these winners lost over £30 million.

But while most would jump for joy knowing they won enough money to never have to work again, some say winning a jackpot ruined their lives.

2