Lotto winner Gillian Bayford, who scooped £148m jackpot, cosies up to old school pal on shopping trip after split from fiancé Alan Warnock
The £148million mum, 45, has been spotted with Gavin Innes, 44, after ending her three-year engagement
LOTTO winner Gillian Bayford who scooped a £148million jackpot has split from her fiancée following a three-year engagement.
The multi-millionaire mum, 45, is being comforted by school pal Gavin Innes, 44, after separating from Alan Warnock, 46.
A friend said: “They are joined at the hip.”
Moneybags Gillian used a little retail therapy to help get over her engagement split — by heading to Argos with old friend Gavin.
The EuroMillions winner walked hand in hand with her former schoolmate on a shopping trip to the catalogue store.
They emerged clutching branded bags before driving off in one of Gillian’s flash motors from the Overgate centre in Dundee.
Friends said the low-key outing was one of several enjoyed by the pair in recent weeks after the jackpot winner’s romance with fiancé Alan ended.
One said: “They hang about together at weeknights and weekends. She stays at his, he stays at hers. Her Land Rover is parked outside his house regularly. He’s always driving her car.
“Everybody knows about it. She is constantly buying him things.
“The lifestyle is an easy option for him.”
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Bearded Gavin — wearing jeans and grey T-shirt — and stripey-topped Gillian spent hours together during the week.
They were spotted jumping in and out of Gillian’s Land Rover at Gavin’s modest semi-detached pad in the city’s Coldside.
The single dad, who said he valets Gillian’s fleet of motors, was described as “good fun”.
The source added: “I can see why she is spending time with him. He likes to enjoy himself.
"He’s not stupid. He went to university and he is clever. His personality comes across as fun to be around and quite adventurous.
“He would be a good, fun person for Gillian to be around.”
Mum-of-two Gillian, who has a a mansion in Newport-on-Tay, Fife, insisted she didn’t need a fella in her life as she denied hooking up with her ex-classmate.
Confirming her split from car salesman Alan, she said: “Gavin is an old friend from school. He’s not my boyfriend.
“I have not been very well — that’s maybe why he was holding my hand.”
She added: “I’ve always been happy. All I want is for my children to have a normal life.”
And she played down sightings of Gavin getting behind the wheel of her motor.
She said: “I’m out of the country. About four people have access to my car.”
Gavin was stepping into a Mini convertible when we approached him at his home. Asked about his relationship with Gillian, he said: “I valet her car.”
But when told the pair had been spotted out together, he added: “Ask Gillian about it.”
Former hospital assistant Gillian got engaged to garage boss Alan in October 2014.
The couple met when Alan flogged Gillian three motors at his Audi dealership in Dundee.
Alan posted a picture of the engagement ring as they revealed the news on Facebook.
He wrote: “Boom. I’ve done it like a proper grown-up.”
Gillian said: “Feel like a really lucky girl.”
Alan — another former school pal of Gillian’s — quit his job and started two property firms with the multi-millionaire.
He also set up Sugar and Spice sweet shop and tearoom in Arbroath with her before the engagement.
But his status as director of the three companies was terminated in November 2015.
He was said to have stepped aside for “business reasons”.
Beginning and spend
Aug 2012: Gillian celebrates £148million win by ordering three Audi Q7s at a Dundee garage on visit to her parents in Carnoustie, Angus.
Nov 2013: Gillian and hubby Adrian announce their split.
Dec 2013: Mum of two shacks up with salesman Alan Warnock, who sold her the cars.
Aug 2014: Couple become partners in two property firms and tearoom in Arbroath.
Oct 2014: The pair announce engagement on Facebook.
Nov 2015: Alan quits as director of the businesses.
Mar 2016: Gillian axes 21 staff at Sugar and Spice tearoom with £100 settlement offer.
May 2016: Gillian reveals family feud after she gave relatives £20million handout.
Feb 2017: Slams ex-hubby’s fiancée Sam Burbridge for leaving with 30 prize horses.
Aug 2017: Gillian and Alan split. She's seen spending time with old pal Gavin Innes
The tearoom shut last March, leaving 21 staff out of work.
Asked about the split at his home in Monifieth, Angus, Alan replied: “I have nothing to say.”
Gillian was living in Haverhill, Suffolk, with then-hubby Adrian, 46, when they scooped the monster £148million jackpot in 2012.
They split 15 months later and she moved into a mansion in her home city of Dundee.
Adrian was one of the original directors of Carnoustie-based property firm A&G Properties Scotland — launched in 2013 — before car salesman Alan was also appointed in August 2014.
Gillian splashed out £625,000 to buy her swanky riverside pad in Newport from Adrian in August 2016.
We told how the four-storey, five-bedroom property was priced at £845,000 in web valuations.
Earlier this year we revealed Gillian — who is still on speaking terms with her former husband -—accused after she walked out with £300,000 of prize showjumping horses.
Blasting Sam Burbidge, she said: “She has taken advantage of Adrian from day one.
“I think all of it has been very much planned by Sam.”
Gillian also revealed how her two children were left heartbroken after ex-stable girl Sam also took two pet labradors.
Sam, 29, left Adrian a month after a £100,000 burglary at their £6million Suffolk mansion.