In Britain a man who won stg£5 Â (€6.4) million on the lottery but continued claiming benefits has been jailed for 9 months.
Edward Putman from Hertfordshire took stg£13,000 (€16,689) in 20 months.
The judge Mr. Justice Bright QC told Putman “You were motivated by greed on a scale which frankly defies belief, especially in an economic climate where the welfare budget is being cut and those who are entitled to benefit are struggling to make ends meet”.
The court heard that Putman began receiving income support in 2000 claiming he was incapacitated by anxiety issues but he failed to tell the authorities that his conditions had changed.
When he failed to turn up to a medical check his benefits were stopped.
In July 2010 just 10 months after his lottery win Putman wrote to the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and begging them to reinstate his benefits.
He claimed he had not attended the medical examination because he was too ill.
He had previously been convicted of rape in 1993.
Reporter Rachel Younger is at St. Albans Crown Court.
She says Putman told officials he was completely broke.
