Lottery record holder accused of death threat

The winner of the largest single lottery jackpot in US history has been accused of threatening to kill a bar manager.

Andrew Whittaker, who won the €252m Powerball jackpot in Christmas 2002, was arraigned on charges of threatening Todd Parsons, the manager of Billy Sundays Bar and Grill in St Albans, West Virginia.

Whittaker, who reportedly was banned from the bar, is accused of trying to hit Parsons and threatening “to have the victim and his family killed,” according to police reports.

He was released on bail and faces up to six months in jail if convicted.

The 56-year-old contractor received a €90.6m lump sum payment from his lottery win and spent €10m establishing the Jack Whittaker Foundation, a non-profit organisation to help West Virginians find jobs, buy food and pay for education.