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Edinburgh Live
2 days ago
- Business
- Edinburgh Live
Plumber who had just £9 in bank scooped £11m lottery win
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A plumber's life was turned on its head when he bagged a staggering $22million (around £11m) lottery win. In 2017, Joshua Winslet, then just 22 and with a mere $19 (£9) left in his bank account, decided to try his luck on Australia's $100m (£47.9m) Powerball draw. To his absolute astonishment, he found himself the sole recipient of a $22m jackpot just hours later. However, this windfall led to heartbreak, and ultimately tragedy for the troubled young man. Joshua had been born with two disfiguring conditions that made his childhood unbearable. Joshua, a resident of New Zealand's South Island, was born with both Duane syndrome and Goldenhar syndrome. Duane syndrome is an eye disorder that limits the ability to move one or both eyes, while Goldenhar syndrome is a rare condition resulting from underdeveloped bones and muscles in the face, reports the Mirror. These two congenital abnormalities made Joshua a target for bullies throughout his school years. As a child, he underwent plastic surgery to correct some of the signs of his condition, but the procedures were not entirely successful. After a challenging time at school, Joshua briefly attended Adelaide University Senior College in South Australia before deciding to drop out and pursue a plumbing apprenticeship instead. At the age of 20, he decided to relocate to New Zealand, believing he might find it easier to secure work there. After struggling in New Zealand as a plumber and teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, his fortunes were drastically altered by a fortuitous lottery win, netting him a stunning $22 million. The Daily Mail's conversation with two ex-schoolmates of Joshua revealed their disbelief when he broke the news of his colossal lottery fortune. One admitted: "He sent a screenshot of his lotto app and we still almost didn't believe him. It was something that doesn't happen to someone like Josh, you know? Especially $22million." Reflecting on Joshua's past hardships and deserved luck, another friend noted: "Out of everyone from our school, and after all the bullying he copped, he deserved it more than anyone." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages Initially, Joshua invested shrewdly, snapping up real estate investments across South Australia and New Zealand, while leaving the remaining windfall in a trust overseen by his parents. Unfortunately, the sudden wealth became overwhelming, and his New Port mansion in Adelaide gained notoriety as a raucous party hub rife with alcohol and drugs. A framed memento of his winning lottery ticket adorned one wall of the notorious residence. Tragedy struck in 2020 when the house became the target of a police raid, leading to the discovery of an alarming mess featuring over 27 grams of ecstasy, two grams of cocaine, and an unlawful firearm amid a sea of empty beer containers. Joshua owned up to drug peddling and illegal firearm possession in South Australia's District Court. Following his conviction in August 2022, he was allocated a three-year and nine-month custodial term, with parole eligibility surfacing after 18 months. Judge Heath Barklay noted during the sentencing: "Because of the money that you had won, there was no motivation on your part to work or do anything other than enjoy yourself." However, Joshua's time behind bars was promptly suspended due to good behaviour, which led him right back to his hard-partying lifestyle. His friends were alarmed at his drug consumption, with one issuing a stark warning: "You need to stop this or you're going to die." Tragically, their worst predictions materialised. By December 2022, barely months after his sentencing, Joshua was found dead in his home. His premature demise was attributed to severe health complications triggered by his rampant substance abuse.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Plumber who had just £9 in bank won £11m – but then life began to unravel
Joshua Winslet was 22 when he won $22m on the Australia lottery - but the life of the plumber who had endured years of bullying and misery was soon to take a tragic turn A plumber's world was turned upside down after he scooped a whopping $22million (approximately £11m) lottery win. Joshua Winslet was just 22 in 2017, when with only $19 (£9) left in his bank account, he decided to try his luck on Australia 's $100m (£47.9m) Powerball draw. To his utter disbelief, he found himself the sole winner of a $22m jackpot just hours later. However, this stroke of fortune led to heartache, and ultimately death for the troubled young man. Joshua had been born with two disfiguring conditions that had made his childhood unbearable. Joshua, who lived on New Zealand's South Island, had been born with both Duane syndrome and Goldenhar syndrome. Duane syndrome is an eye disorder that restricts the ability to move one or both eyes, while Goldenhar syndrome is a rare condition resulting from underdeveloped bones and muscles in the face. Together, these two congenital abnormalities made Joshua a target for bullies throughout his school years. As a child, he underwent plastic surgery to correct some of the signs of his condition, but the procedures were not entirely successful. After enduring a difficult time at school, Joshua briefly enrolled at Adelaide University Senior College in South Australia before deciding to drop out and pursue a plumbing apprenticeship instead. At the age of 20, he decided to relocate to New Zealand, believing he might find it easier to secure work there. Struggling as a plumber in New Zealand and almost broke, his life turned around with a lucky lottery ticket that landed him a $22 million windfall. The Daily Mail spoke to two of Joshua's former schoolfriends who recalled the moment he told them about his massive win. One said: "He sent a screenshot of his lotto app and we still almost didn't believe him. It was something that doesn't happen to someone like Josh, you know? Especially $22million." Another friend remarked: "Out of everyone from our school, and after all the bullying he copped, he deserved it more than anyone." Initially, Joshua made some savvy moves with his riches, snapping up investment properties across South Australia and New Zealand and entrusting the rest of the loot to a trust managed by his parents. However, the pressures of vast wealth quickly got the better of him, and his New Port mansion in Adelaide transformed into an infamous party den, awash with booze and drugs. Pinned to one wall of the disreputable mansion was a copy of Joshua's precious lottery-winning ticket. But in 2020, this hedonistic hideaway was hit by a police raid, uncovering a shambolic scene with over 27 grams of ecstasy, two grams of cocaine, and an illegal firearm strewn among countless empty beer bottles. Joshua pleaded guilty to dealing drugs and possessing a firearm unlawfully in South Australia's District Court. After his conviction in August 2022, he was handed a three-year and nine-month sentence with the chance of parole after 18 months. During sentencing, Judge Heath Barklay remarked: "Because of the money that you had won, there was no motivation on your part to work or do anything other than enjoy yourself." But his prison stint was swiftly put on hold for good behaviour, seeing Joshua fall back into his wild ways. Mates witnessed him chipping away at an enormous block of cocaine, and one even bluntly cautioned: "You need to stop this or you're going to die." Devastatingly, his friends' fears came true. By December 2022, less than half a year since facing justice, Joshua was discovered lifeless at his place. His untimely death was determined to have been the result of severe health issues brought on by reckless drug use.
