Former homeless man scoops lotto jackpot

A FORMER homeless man had to pinch himself and check the numbers a second time when he won £2.6m (€3.3m) in the British lottery.

Herbert Plant, 49, from Blackpole, Worcester, now works as a chef at the hostel that took him in when he had no place else to stay.

And he has no intention of packing in the job.

The chef said hearing the news of his windfall was “surreal”.

“I asked my eldest son, Richard, to check my lotto tickets,” said the 49-year-old father of two.

“He was gone over an hour, so I started to worry but moments later he ran into the house shouting at the top of his voice ‘you’ve won, you’ve won!’”

After pinching himself and checking the numbers a second time, Plant then invited friends and family together for a celebration.

The St Paul’s Hostel chef hopes to keep doing the job he loves, but he’s also planning to pay off his son Richard’s mortgage and buy a house for his other son, 21-year-old Jamie.

The Leeds United fan said he would go to Elland Road to see a match and think about a dream holiday.

“It’s been so surreal,” he said.

“I’ve played the lottery since it started and have only won a few tenners.

“But my youngest son Jamie did say he thought it was going to be my lucky weekend.

“I asked him what he meant, but he just couldn’t describe his feelings — although I’m very glad they’ve come true.”