£10m lottery winner is tagged again

Magistrates ordered yesterday that an electronic tag worn by a lottery jackpot winner should be reactivated and his curfew reimposed.

Michael Carroll, 19, from Downham Market, Norfolk, obtained permission from a court last week to have the tag deactivated after he won £9.7m on the National Lottery.

Carroll, who was banned from leaving his house between 6pm and 5am, told magistrates he needed the restrictions relaxed so he could escape the attentions of journalists.

But the magistrates, sitting at King's Lynn, Norfolk, said the tagging restrictions, which stay in force until December, should be reimposed.

Mr Carroll's solicitor, George Sorell, told the court his client would be staying at a new address in King's Lynn, where electronic monitoring equipment would be installed.

Mr Carroll, who did not attend yesterday's hearing, was ordered to wear the tag a few weeks before winning the jackpot after being convicted of drunk and disorderly behaviour.

He picked the winning numbers on 2 November and his story immediately attracted media interest

He had a troubled background which included a four-month sentence for aggravated vehicle taking and convictions for theft, driving while disqualified and causing criminal damage to a bus.

Mr Carroll and his pregnant partner, Sandra Aiken, 19, have defended themselves against newspaper criticism.

"It is true I have been a bad lad," said Mr Carroll. "I went through a bad patch. What teenager hasn't made a few mistakes in their life?

"That is all in the past and the Lotto has given me a great chance for a stable future. I will never be in trouble again."