Not so lucky lottery fraudster goes to jail

The UK store clerk who attempted to defraud an elderly British couple, telling them their million pound lottery ticket was worthless, and then attempting to cash it himself, will have 30 months to repent at leisure.

That’s how long he is going to spend in jail after sentencing this week by a Manchester magistrate.

Farrakh “Lucky” Nizzar (30), an illegal immigrant now due to be deported to Pakistan after his jail term, pleaded guilty to defrauding elderly couple Maureen and Fred Holt.

National lottery operator Camelot became suspicious when Nizzar was unable to correctly answer a series of security questions when he tried to claim the prize, and the police were called in after an investigation that involved checking CCTV footage.

The accused bowed his head and made no reaction as he was jailed for 30 months at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, the London Evening Standard reports.

Passing sentence, Recorder Philip Cattan told the defendant: “This goes to the heart of public confidence in the National Lottery.