I won £1MILLION lotto jackpot but if I hadn’t called my ex-wife I’d have lost it all – I couldn’t believe my eyes

A LUCKY winner who scooped a £1million jackpot wouldn't have bagged a penny if he hadn't called his ex-wife.

Steve Glover couldn't believe his eyes when he checked his lotto results and nearly left the huge windfall unclaimed.

The ex-cabbie, from Exeter, tried his chances in March 2023 after yobs had destroyed his caravan and squashed plans to retire in the Scottish Highlands.

Steve was overcome with joy when he discovered he'd hit the jackpot and had to call his ex-wife to check whether it was real.

The 73-year-old said: "I had to call my best mate, and then my ex-wife, asking each to read the numbers to me, just to be sure I wasn't looking at the wrong thing.

";I still pinch myself at how much has changed for me for the better.

"I was feeling pretty fed-up thinking that my Scottish dream would never happen, and then Lady Luck smiled on me and the rest, as they say, is history.

"For 30 years I've been driving people around in taxis and now I get to drive around in my perfect motor. I am absolutely overwhelmed with how life has turned out."

The former driver quickly splashed the cash on a fleet of new luxury vehicles, from a lavish motorhome to an all-terrain buggy.

A classic Bentley and a Land Rover were also added to his impressive collection as an early Christmas present.

"After years towing a caravan or getting about in an old camper, I wasted no time and within one month of winning, I'd bought myself a luxurious motorhome, treated my best mate to one too, and then waved goodbye to Exeter setting off on a 1,000 mile road-trip to find my dream home in Scotland,"explained Steve.

The lotto winner also bought an SUV for practical purposes, navigating the narrow roads through Highland hills.

"For someone like me, who has always loved anything with an engine, being in this wonderful position to 'play' is an absolute dream, I'm like a kid in a sweet shop," he added.

Steve's passion for cars was sparked during his RAF career, when he would drive for the Go-Kart race team.

His time at RAF Leuchars also ignited his dream of moving to the Highlands after serving in the area.

He said: "I was driving for the RAF Go-Kart race team during my time at Leuchars, you could say that the RAF gave me my two great loves in life, Scotland and a fascination for just about anything with an engine.

"And while the RAF gave me a go-kart, the Lotto win has given me a veritable fleet of vehicles, I think my current favourite is my old classic, a Bentley R Turbo."

This comes as a lucky couple who scooped an eye-watering £2million lottery jackpot have revealed how they still shop at Poundland.

Marie Kibler and husband Paul, from Birmingham, were stunned to discover the massive win - but still admit to watching the pennies.

Elsewhere, another lucky couple thought they'd only bagged £2.60 on the lottery - but soon discovered they had scooped the £61million jackpot.

Richard and Debbie Nuttall, both 54, from Colne, Lancashire, took home the life-changing sum in the EuroMillions draw on Tuesday, 30 January 2024.

But now, Debbie has been embroiled in a long-standing family dispute with her estranged brother Glen - who claims he hasn't seen a penny.

Meanwhile, a fellow lotto jackpot scooper has hit back after being accused of pocketing a £1million jackpot after splitting from her boyfriend.

Charlotte Cox, 37, has slammed her ex-partner, Michael Cartlidge's "rubbish" claims that he is entitled to half the massive win.

The ex-couple, from Spalding, Lincs, have been embroiled in a nasty war over who deserves the life-changing £1million pay out.