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6th June, 2009, 09:02 AM
Fraudster: James Price was jailed for three years and four months for conning lottery winner Keith Gough
When Keith and Louise Gough won ?9million on the lottery, they thought their financial worries were over.
Even when they separated Mrs Gough, who bought the winning ticket, gave her husband ?1.5million.
But the millionaire lifestyle has brought only heartache after Mr Gough, 58, lost it all to a conman.
He was targeted by fraudster James Prince, who befriended him and plied him with alcohol before getting him to sign over all his money for 'business ventures'.
Mr Gough gave up work as a baker when his wife won the lottery in 2005.
But he started drinking heavily, leading to the break-up of their 25-year-marriage, and he checked in to the Priory rehabilitation clinic in Birmingham.
He had met Prince, 35, through a bookmaker, and the conman became a regular visitor throughout his illness.
Chester Crown Court heard that Mr Gough was an 'easy and vulnerable victim' and that Prince, who had been declared bankrupt, was plausible and articulate, driving a black Bentley and wearing an expensive watch.
He convinced Mr Gough that he was successful and needed investment in exciting business ventures that would generate good returns.
He then persuaded him to discharge himself before taking him to Broxton Hall, a country house hotel.
Peter Moss, prosecuting, said: 'The manager there recalls that Mr Gough was drunk most of the time, topping up from day to day. He noticed that he was also morose and vulnerable.
Keith and Louise Gough
'Prince kept Mr Gough holed up and boozed up for six nights at Broxton for the purpose of extractingas much money as possible'.
During the next six months Prince moved Mr Gough, who now lives in Broseley, Shropshire, around various rented accommodation and smart hotels - with his victim always picking up the bill.
He stole more than ?700,000 between August 2006 and July 2008 before worried relatives managed to 'kidnap' Mr Gough out of his clutches. Mr Gough had spent the rest of his lottery money before meeting Prince.
Prince, of Tushingham, Cheshire, admitted two counts of fraud and one of money laundering and was sentenced to three years and four months in jail.
He had previously been jailed for fraud and was on a suspended sentence at the time of his crimes.
He was originally charged with 13 counts of fraud involving several victims and amounting to ?2 million, but ten were allowed to lie on file.
Sentencing him, Judge Elgan Edwards, QC, said: 'You are an intelligent and persuasive person but sadly you are dishonest.
'You have been leading something of a high life but now the day of reckoning has come'.
When Keith and Louise Gough won ?9million on the lottery, they thought their financial worries were over.
Even when they separated Mrs Gough, who bought the winning ticket, gave her husband ?1.5million.
But the millionaire lifestyle has brought only heartache after Mr Gough, 58, lost it all to a conman.
He was targeted by fraudster James Prince, who befriended him and plied him with alcohol before getting him to sign over all his money for 'business ventures'.
Mr Gough gave up work as a baker when his wife won the lottery in 2005.
But he started drinking heavily, leading to the break-up of their 25-year-marriage, and he checked in to the Priory rehabilitation clinic in Birmingham.
He had met Prince, 35, through a bookmaker, and the conman became a regular visitor throughout his illness.
Chester Crown Court heard that Mr Gough was an 'easy and vulnerable victim' and that Prince, who had been declared bankrupt, was plausible and articulate, driving a black Bentley and wearing an expensive watch.
He convinced Mr Gough that he was successful and needed investment in exciting business ventures that would generate good returns.
He then persuaded him to discharge himself before taking him to Broxton Hall, a country house hotel.
Peter Moss, prosecuting, said: 'The manager there recalls that Mr Gough was drunk most of the time, topping up from day to day. He noticed that he was also morose and vulnerable.
Keith and Louise Gough
'Prince kept Mr Gough holed up and boozed up for six nights at Broxton for the purpose of extractingas much money as possible'.
During the next six months Prince moved Mr Gough, who now lives in Broseley, Shropshire, around various rented accommodation and smart hotels - with his victim always picking up the bill.
He stole more than ?700,000 between August 2006 and July 2008 before worried relatives managed to 'kidnap' Mr Gough out of his clutches. Mr Gough had spent the rest of his lottery money before meeting Prince.
Prince, of Tushingham, Cheshire, admitted two counts of fraud and one of money laundering and was sentenced to three years and four months in jail.
He had previously been jailed for fraud and was on a suspended sentence at the time of his crimes.
He was originally charged with 13 counts of fraud involving several victims and amounting to ?2 million, but ten were allowed to lie on file.
Sentencing him, Judge Elgan Edwards, QC, said: 'You are an intelligent and persuasive person but sadly you are dishonest.
'You have been leading something of a high life but now the day of reckoning has come'.