An individual who was awarded a £2.5m prize by UK National Lottery operator Camelot has been charged with fraud after doubts were raised over the validity of his winning ticket.

Kings Langley resident Edward Putman, 53, has been charged with fraud by false representation by Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Serious Fraud and Cyber Unit following an investigation launched in 2015. 

The investigation was launched after evidence came to light suggesting that Putman’s claim to the prize was not genuine. 

He had originally made the claim for the £2.5m prize in 2009, with a lottery ticket submitted and the full sum paid out by Camelot.

Hertfordshire Constabulary now believes there is sufficient evidence to charge Putman, who has been released on bail to appear at St Alban’s Magistrates Court on October 16th. If found guilty of fraud by false representation, Putman faces up to ten years in prison.