Lotto winner's warrant confusion

Michael Carroll is expected to be arrested on Monday

A £9.7m lottery winner from Norfolk has been freed after confusion as to whether a warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Magistrates ordered the arrest of Michael Carroll, 20, on Friday after he failed to turn up for a court hearing accused of receiving stolen goods.

But when police tracked him down they were forced to let him go.

Norfolk Police said they discovered that the arrest warrant had not yet been processed.

A Norfolk Police spokesman said he understood an order had been made for Carroll's arrest but the documentation had not yet been signed and handed to police.

'Waiting for paperwork'

"Until we are in possession of a warrant which gives the power of arrest the police cannot act," he said.

"If we were to arrest him because we think there is a warrant, that would be illegal.

"At the moment there is not a warrant in existence because the paperwork has not come through."

It is now expected Carroll will be arrested on Monday, his 21st birthday.

Michael Carroll was to face allegations he received stolen power tools worth £1,100 and attempted to handle a stolen hedge trimmer.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges at a hearing last month.

Carroll, of Swaffham, had been scheduled to appear before magistrates at nearby King's Lynn.