Homeless Man Wins £2.6 million

After five years at Sainsbury’s as a warehouseman, Herbert Plant lost his job in 2006, and ended up living on the streets.  In June this year, Herbert won £2.6 million with a lottery ticket he bought from the same store that sacked him.

The 49 year old, from Blackpole, Worcester, UK, said he would continue to work as a cook at St Paul’s Hostel for the Homeless, which took him in after he lost his home and his job.

He planned to spend the money buying a car, and paying off his older son’s mortgage, and buy a house for his younger son.  He also said he would like to take in a match in Elland Road, and go on a holiday.

Mr Plant, who also divorced after losing his job and home, bought a ticket in the Lotto using a Lucky Dip purchase.

He said he had popped into the Worcester store where he used to work to chat to old work colleagues.  He only bought the Lucky Dip ticket for the evening’s National Lottery as an afterthought.

The irony of the Sainsbury ticket was not lost on Herbert, who said “What a compensation package.”

For the last two years I’ve been working part time as a chef at the hostel, earning £200 a week, so money has been really tight.

Herbert celebrated his win with a meal of faggots and chips, and also planned to buy a Leeds United season ticket.