Dairy owner pleads guilty to defrauding Lotto winner

A former dairy owner has pleaded guilty to ripping off a Lotto winner of his $30,500.87 prize, saying it was the biggest mistake of his life.

Vijay Navin Patel, 35, of Paraparaumu, admitted charges of using a document to defraud and obtain by deceit in Porirua District Court this morning.

Crown prosecutor Michael Sceats said a customer went into the Village Lotto and Dairy in Raumati, Kapiti Coast, on September 4, with a division 2 winning ticket following the Saturday night draw.

Patel, who owned the dairy at the time, gave the customer $642.

Patel put the division 2 ticket worth $30,500.87, and won by 14 separate Lotto players, in his pocket.

The customer later returned to the shop and accused Patel of ripping him off, Mr Sceats said.

Patel agreed and gave him a further nine dollars.

A second unnamed customer later came into the dairy with a division 3 ticket and was told by Patel he'd won $30,500.87, Mr Sceats said.

Patel then posted the winning division 2 ticket to the New Lotteries commission on behalf of the second customer.

Patel failed to disclose three previous convictions for theft in 1997 when he applied for his Lotto franchise in April 2003.

When questioned by police, Patel could not provide an explanation, and said "he'd made the biggest mistake of his life".

Defence lawyer Chris Lillie said he was ready to make submission on behalf of Patel, but Judge Denys Barry remanded him until December 13 for a reparation and pre-sentence report.

- NZPA