Lottery Winner Puts 40ft Mobile Home On Bonfire

The Telegraph (UK) ^ | 11-7-2003 | David Sapsted

[blam]

Lottery winner puts 40ft mobile home on bonfire

By David Sapsted
(Filed: 07/11/2003)

A persistent offender who won almost £10 million on the National Lottery has brought fresh misery to his neighbours by burning a 40-foot mobile home as the centrepiece of a huge bonfire party.

Michael Carroll

As 20-year-old Michael Carroll celebrated with the massive pyre in a field at his home in rural Norfolk, the surrounding area was smothered in flying embers and choking smoke that left one neighbour suffering an asthma attack.

Firemen called to the scene when it was feared that sparks and burning debris threatened properties in the area, were mocked by the partygoers.

People living around Carroll's five-bedroom, detached home near Swaffham, locked themselves in their houses as the countryside was enveloped in smoke and four dogs had to be sedated by a vet because of the noise from fireworks.

But at least Carroll - currently wearing an electronic tag to enforce a curfew imposed by a court for his failure to complete community service - did not burn a boat and two cars that were originally piled on the 30-foot bonfire.

Carroll, a former dustman, was nicknamed the "Lotto Lout" by the tabloids after he won £9.7 million with the first lottery ticket he bought. He made his neighbours' lives a misery earlier this year by staging late-night banger races on the three-acre field where he held the bonfire.

Breckland District Council served two enforcement notices on him, banning him from causing a nuisance with noise and smoke on his land but he had, apparently, informed the authority of his intention to burn the mobile home on Nov 5.

Sid Skeat, 36, a builder who lives next door to Carroll, said yesterday: "The council's attitude was that it was Bonfire Night and there was nothing that they could do about it because people were entitled to celebrate."

Ruth Leeks, 34, who lives two doors away suffered an asthma attack as she ushered her son Luke, nine, indoors.

Carroll, who has been in court more than 30 times for a variety of offences, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Pigeon fancier Brian Cullum, 57 lost his entire flock of 40 birds when a firework set light to his pigeon loft in Bloxwich, Walsall.

[ridesthemiles]

Talk about your neighbor from HELL......

[SeeRushToldU_So]

Duh, hold me pint mate!

Now I bet he buys a two story mobile home. You can't hide money.

[blam]

"Talk about your neighbor from HELL......"

Seems appropriate, I'm watching Pacific Heights on A&E.

[LisaMalia]

You can always tell "new money". My mobile home is a 64 footer!

[Welsh Rabbit]

Anyone want to guess how many years it will take him to become flat broke again? I'm guessing maybe four; five tops.

[Argus]

U.K.'s answer to Rodney King.

[dts32041]

Hey he was celebrating Guy Fawkes Day.

[LibWhacker]

Money to burn, huh? He'd better chill or he'll be broke by 30.

[Bonaparte]

Somehow I don't think he cares.

[petuniasevan]

Maybe he'll run out of money then the neighbors will get some rest...

Nah...


Just Damn!

[lavrenti]

For some reason, I like this guy.

[Bonaparte]

You too? ;-)

[Denver Ditdat]

Carroll, a former dustman

Now there's a Briticism I haven't heard before. Anyone care to translate?

[WackyKat]

I thought all the trailer trash had left England and moved to this country centuries ago.

[oust the louse]

A better bet would be if he's dead before his money runs out....he runs with a rough crew I bet and they will want a part of him,that's for sure!

[deport]

dustman - garbage collector, garbage man, refuse collector

[glock rocks]

garbage man.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

He'll be broke in another year.

[mhking]

Just damn.

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