Teenager Wins £240,000 On Scratchcard But Can't Spend It Because Of Lockdown

A teenager from Stoke has managed to scoop a £240,000 prize by winning on a scratchcard, but is unable to spend it because he and his entire family are in lockdown.

Kyle Burke, 18, decided to have a punt on a National Lottery scratchcard back on 19 March, and to his amazement, he discovered the card had won him a prize promising £20,000 ($24,700) per month for an entire year.

That totals up to £240,000 ($296,000) over the course of the whole year.

Kyle, who works as a shop assistant at JD Sports, said he reacted with complete and utter disbelief after realising he'd won the prize.

Speaking to the Stoke Sentinel, he said: "I popped to the local shop for a few bits and bobs and decided to have a go on a scratchcard. The thought of winning every month more than I earn in a year sounded too good an opportunity to miss.

"As soon as a got home, I scratched it and I realised I had won.

"I dashed back to the shop to ask them to check it. I was shaking and so nervous. The lady shop assistant told me to call The National Lottery so I did.

"During the phone call they asked me for the shop details, so I ran around again and asked the same lady behind the counter for all that information while still on the phone to The National Lottery. I finally got home again and after all that to-ing and fro-ing, just sat down in disbelief."

However, because the entirety of the United Kingdom - and much of the rest of the world - is in lockdown right now, he'll have to wait for a bit before he can enjoy his winnings.

It matters to Kyle personally, too. His dad is a porter at the Royal Stoke University Hospital, and is therefore self-isolating at another location for 12 weeks in order to continue doing his job.

His mum, younger brother and sister, and his sister's boyfriend are currently in isolation, too.

That means that he'll delay his celebrations until everyone can come along, and he's actually got somewhere nice to go.

He explained: "I know how tough it is for everybody at the moment, especially with my dad working for the NHS.

"But not celebrating and staying at home is the right thing to do. It gives me a lot longer to think about what I'm going to spend my money on.

"I've currently got a provisional driving licence so when I pass my test, I will get a car. All I can do at the moment is look at my banking app to see what my increasing balance is, which is just mad.

"The guys at The National Lottery have sent me a digital big cheque and have promised to send me the usual big one plus a bottle of champagne as soon as it is safe to."

"I will keep self-isolating, washing my hands and not venturing out until everything changes back to normal."

Sounds like a sensible move. The money will still be there once all of this is over.

Kyle bought the '£20,000 A Month For A Year' scratchcard on Thursday 19 March 2020 from Hamil Road Convenience Store (221 Hamil Road, Stoke on Trent, ST6 1BA).

The scratchcard '£20,000 A Month For A Year', from The National Lottery, offers a 1 in 3.99 overall chance of winning a prize.

The scratchcard costs £2 and prizes range from £2 up to the top prize of £20,000 a month for a year.

Featured Image Credit: Stoke Sentinel

Topics: uk news, Coronavirus

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekends he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim