Lottery winner who landed £13.6million jackpot faces 80 years in jail after robbing banks to fund heroin habit
Security guard James Hayes, 55, faces dying behind bars after his life descended into drug chaos after huge win
A LOTTERY winner who scooped a £13.6 million jackpot has been jailed for 80 years - for robbing banks.
James Hayes, 55, faces dying behind bars after he looted 10 banks despite bagging the huge cash prize in California's SuperLotto.
Security guard Hayes was woken up by a phone call from his grandmother who told him the numbers on his ticket matched the winning line back in 1998.
At the time, Hayes told the LA Times: "I was very happy before this. This just tops it off."
He said he planned to buy a new house, a car and start a family with his wife.
But fast forward 20 years and Hayes has admitted robbing four banks and now faces spending the rest of his life behind bars.
The court heard he developed a £720 ($1,000)-a-week heroin habit following his lottery win and was living along in a garage.
The FBI nicknamed him the 'Seasoned Bandit' as they chased him down over 10 heists between April and September last year.
Hayes would calmly slip a note to the cashier saying he would shoot them if they didn't hand over money.
He took £7,000-a-time and told witnesses it was for a "family emergency".
Cops bagged their man last year after a tip-off.
Because of his distinctive getaway car, some officers also dubbed him the PT Cruiser Bandit.
But 20 years ago, the felon was rich beyond his wildest dreams.
He said at the time: "I'm not going to blow the money.
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"I know I'll change - but only for the better.
"Mainly what I want to do is help out my family and friends in need."
It is not known what became of his wife or his lottery fortunes - or how his stroke of luck transformed into a life ruining drug habit.