Lotto millionaire returning to old life as a binman

AN ex-dustman who won a £9.7 million (€11.4m) National Lottery prize in Britain nearly eight years ago wants to return to his old job, a friend said.

Michael Carroll, of Downham Market, Norfolk, had spent or given away most of his millions and was applying to a local council for a job as a binman, said the friend.

Carroll, who was unavailable for comment, hit the jackpot in November 2002 at the age of 19 while living in King’s Lynn, Norfolk.

He had been convicted of being drunk and disorderly shortly before winning and made headlines after appearing at a press conference wearing a monitoring tag which magistrates had ordered to be fitted.

“A few weeks ago he said he wanted to work on the bins again and he’s filling in application forms. I think it would pay between £15,000 and £18,000,” said the friend.

“He’s also doing some acting work. He wants to continue with that.”

The friend added: “Most of the money has gone. But in many ways he’s a success story. He’s come out at the other end the same old Michael Carroll. He’s happy.”

In the years following his lottery win, Carroll appeared in court on a number of occasions and was convicted of a variety of offences. Three years ago he said he had “calmed down” and told how he sometimes wished he had never won the lottery.