Twisted individual Edward Putman has a history of exploiting those closest to him. Since his conviction for rape in 1991, his life has been marked by a series of reprehensible actions, including allegations of domestic violence, benefit fraud, and violence, culminating in the elaborate 2009 National Lottery fraud scheme.
The fraudulent endeavor stemmed from an unlikely companionship between the assertive Putman and the mild-mannered Camelot fraud worker Giles Knibbs. Through the use of a counterfeit ticket, Putman deceitfully claimed £2.5 million, subsequently indulging in a luxurious lifestyle replete with extravagant purchases like BMWs and opulent vacations. The scam went unnoticed for seven years until 2016 when the Gambling Commission penalized National Lottery operator Camelot with a £3 million fine due to inadequate controls that facilitated the success of a “deliberately damaged ticket.”
Investigations into council documents and land registry records unveiled Putman’s expenditure of £466,000 in cash following his lottery windfall on his partner’s residence, which he transformed into a storage area for deteriorating vehicles. Following his incarceration, the property, left abandoned and boarded up, fell victim to arsonists. Despite being released early from his prison term, under crisis management measures to reduce inmate numbers, Putman’s compliance with a Proceeds of Crime Act court order led to the settlement of over £1 million from the scam proceeds, leaving unanswered questions about the fate of the remaining funds. The impact of Putman’s criminal lifestyle on those in his vicinity remains undeniably haunting.
Dan, a member of the Daily Mirror since 2022, previously served as a reporter for the Sunday Mirror, covering a spectrum of topics including terrorism, criminal incidents, and global current affairs. His journalistic endeavors have taken him across Africa, from the Ivory Coast to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, as well as to Bangladesh during the Rohingya crisis and Qatar for the World Cup migrant worker exploitation issue. Dan has reported firsthand from the scenes of terror attacks in Tunisia, Paris, and the Manchester Arena bombing in 2017, leveraging his experiences as the former Chief Reporter for the Evening Chronicle, The Journal, and Sunday Sun in Newcastle.