£3.8m Lotto winner quits job and plans to set family up for life
Leroy Bagley, 42, has celebrated his win by popping champagne at the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.
A BT engineer said he “can’t wait” to help set his family up for life after winning a £3.8 million Lotto jackpot.
Leroy Bagley originally thought he had won £3,800 when he saw he had matched all six numbers on his lucky dip ticket in Saturday’s draw.
The 42-year-old, from Southsea in Portsmouth, celebrated the full extent of his new-found wealth by sipping champagne at the Hampshire port’s Spinnaker Tower on Thursday.
“I woke up the other morning and sat in bed, just taking it all in.”
He was overwhelmed by the experience and excitement got the better of him at one point when he accidentally threw an empty champagne bottle into the water.
Mr Bagley said the best bit “without a doubt” about his win is being able to help out friends and family, adding: “The worries have gone and the financial security is now there.”
First on his list is getting money in the bank for loved ones – particularly his 15-year-old daughter who is taking her GCSEs.
He said: “I want to set my daughter up for life. She wants to go to university and I want to get her a car.
“I just want her to stay safe and well and happy and enjoy it with me.”
“We’ve had hard times over the last few years, friends and family, but we all look after each other.
“Being able to have a drink with my mum and tell her that she never had to worry about money ever again was magic and really beats any other grand plan I might have.”
Mr Bagley is celebrating a day after factory worker Ade Goodchild picked up his £71 million EuroMillions jackpot.
The 58-year-old, from Hereford, is the wealthiest singleton to go public and the 15th biggest UK jackpot winner ever.
He thought no more of it and on Sunday felt so strapped for cash he turned down a trip to the pub with friends to watch the football.
But now he thinks he will have a tab behind the bar and hopes to enjoy watching his team play in an executive box – although he remained tight-lipped about who he supports, claiming it is a “controversial” choice.
He said he originally feared the win was a wind-up so held off making big decisions until it was confirmed, then quit his job on Tuesday.
He said: “Camelot asked me to sign the back of the ticket, which I couldn’t do because my hands were shaking so much.
“When Camelot verified the ticket, I handed my resignation in. I didn’t want to push the button on that email until I knew it was real.
“It’s been a lot to take in, I’m going to miss work as well, I’ve got a good bunch of lads there. I can’t wait to take them out for a beer.”
Mr Bagley is planning to treat himself, too, and is contemplating buying a Range Rover or possibly an Aston Martin.
He said: “I wouldn’t mind buying a brand new car and driving it out of the showroom.”
While he has no plans to leave his home town, he is planning a holiday and will possibly invest in a property abroad.
