LOTTO THUG
Lottery ‘loser’ fighting ex for half of £1m jackpot threatened to kill another former girlfriend in brutal attack
Brute threatened to flush cat down toilet and made chilling threats during horror ordeal
A LOTTO "loser" fighting his ex over her £1million scratchcard win threatened to kill another former girlfriend in a brutal attack.
Michael Cartlidge, 39, grabbed Crystal Neary-Phillips as she desperately attempted to flee.
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He also threatened to flush her cat down the toilet and told his ex: "I am going to f****g kill you, I promise I am going to kill you."
The attack came six months before he and new partner Charlotte Cox scooped £1million after buying scratchcards on a whim.
The Sun revealed how the former couple, from Spalding, Lincolnshire, have been embroiled in a nasty war over who deserves the life-changing sum.
In a further development, Cartlidge has now been convicted of assault by beating, reports.
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The thug avoided jail and was instead slapped with a one-year restraining order and ordered to pay £200 of the £600 prosecution costs and a surcharge of £26.
Ms Neary-Phillips told the court the horror unfolded on April 15 last year when Cartlidge showed up drunk at their home.
The couple rowed over money, which then spilled over into the next day.
Cartlidge threatened to kill her and allegedly smashed up her iPhone after hurling it against a wall.
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He also vowed to harm the victim's beloved pets and grabbed one of the cats.
Ms Neary-Phillips said: "He said he was going to flush the cat down the toilet and then he threw the cat."
The brute grabbed his partner's arm as she fled the flat down some concrete steps - causing her bruising.
The mum, who branded the ordeal "horrendous", said she ended their relationship following the attack.
In his own evidence, Cartlidge claimed he was being "set up" and said he only grabbed Ms Neary-Phillips to stop her failling.
But District Judge Peter Veits saw through his "hard to believe" lies and he was convicted of assault.
A charge of criminal damage relating to the iPhone was dismissed as the judge said there was no way to prove who smashed it.
Six months after the horror, Cartlidge scooped the £1million with Charlotte after buying a few £5 scratchcards from a local Nisa.
He was seen on CCTV transferring the cash to her account but due to bad signal, it didn't drop into her bank until after they arrived home - meaning she bought the tickets herself at the counter.
How you can get help
Women's Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
- Always keep your phone nearby.
- Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
- If you are in danger, call 999.
- Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
- Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
- If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
- Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – [email protected].
Women’s Aid provides a - available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
Cartlidge claimed weeks after their win, he received a message "out of the blue" from Charlotte's friend asking him to move out.
She has since rubbished his claims, telling The Sun: “I bought the ticket. He didn’t transfer me the money.
“It is all rubbish, I want nothing to do with it.”
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Lottery chiefs Camelot launched an investigation and indicated that the £1million would be split.
But it is understood new Lottery owners Allwyn have ruled Charlotte is the rightful claimant as only the name written on the back of the ticket can claim the prize.
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