Lottery winner in court over cash

Desmond Congdon allegedly made off with the cash

A woman who shared a National Lottery jackpot of nearly £3m is suing her former partner after he allegedly absconded with most of the money.

Desmond Congdon and Maureen Todd from Wiltshire signed a declaration of joint ownership of the winning ticket, made joint wills and he proposed to her.

But 15 months later he left with most of the winnings, the High Court heard.

A judge at the court is now being asked to declare Mrs Todd is entitled to half the original assets.

'Extravagant trips'

If successful, the action would leave her former partner just £250,000 because of his high spending since he left, the court was told.

Mrs Todd, 52, met Mr Congdon, 53, in July 2003 and a month later he moved into her home in Primrose Drive, Melksham.

In March 2004, Mr Congdon bought the winning ticket and they went to solicitor to sign a joint declaration over the ownership of the ticket.

They bought another house together in the area and sold her home for £122,593, which she kept.

Bernard Weatherill QC, representing Mrs Todd, told Mr Justice Kitchin: "From then on the defendant treated the lottery monies under his control as his to the exclusion of my client."

He said she was seeking a total of £1.38m - half the proceeds minus her expenditure since the win.

"The defendant - because of extravagances in trips to Epsom race course and casinos around the world - has incurred large expenses for his private enjoyment," Mr Weatherill said.

The hearing continues.