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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ryan Merrifield

Ex-boyfriend of lottery winner fears she'll take their dogs away after break-up

A man who was dumped by his girlfriend after she won the Set For Life lottery fears she'll take his dogs off him.

Laura Hoyle, 40, scooped £10,000-a-month for 30 years and has since moved into her dream home, worth half a million pounds.

But ex-boyfriend Kirk Stevens, 39, is worried he will have a fight on his hands to win custody of the former couple's two cocker spaniels.

Kirk said the only time they talk now is regarding the pets, called Teddy and Barney, who Laura, 40, was spotted walking near her new home in Linby, Nottinghamshire, on Wednesday.

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Kirk and Laura split up a few weeks ago (Camelot / SWNS)

She won the National Lottery jackpot, which is worth £3.6million over three decades, in March 2021.

Kirk said after the win he let her move into his three-bed house rent-free and they went on a trip to Disneyland Paris.

Laura jacked in her job as a Hermes driver and the pair made plans to set up a business hunting ghosts; a passion they shared.

Then two-and-a-half months ago, she ditched Kirk and moved into the new home he had helped her pick out.

Laura scooped the Set For Life prize in March 2021 (SWNS)

Kirk said he feels "hard done by" about the house and although her name was on the winning lottery ticket, he should be given a share of the spoils.

Speaking to the MailOnline, Kirk said: "These dogs mean the world to me, and for the time being we are co-sharing them. We've had them for over three years.

"I hope she never takes them away from me, I couldn't bear that. It hurts to lose the money we won together but it would hurt even more to lose the dogs."

Laura on the phone when the win was confirmed (Camelot / SWNS)

Kirk said the relationship "wasn't perfect" before they split up "but that's the way it goes".

The novelty check presented to Laura and Kirk by lottery operator Camelot had both their names on for the publicity photos.

A spokesman told the Mail that all lottery wins are paid to an individual, even when part of a syndicate and in this case, it was paid to Laura.

It comes after rugby player Daniel White said he regrets breaking up with his girlfriend before her family landed a £61million EuroMillions win.

The 27-year-old's friends ridiculed him after the discovery that his childhood sweetheart Courtney Davies' big win.

The pair dated for two years at Monmouth Comprehensive School, in Wales, before the romance fizzled out.

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