A WOMAN who won a £2million home in a massive raffle has claimed she was given a “booby prize” instead.
Newlywed Loretta Buchanan, 35, was “ecstatic” when she was told she’d won the dream house on Nottingham’s Park Estate in a Win My Home raffle.
1
But she was left baffled when the owner of the property Elliott Andrew, 36, told her she couldn’t have the house.
She told MailOnline: “I was devastated. It was a horrible blow to think you’d won a lovely new home but for it to be taken away. Elliot then said ‘I can give you £5,000 instead’.
“‘I asked him why and he said because the company had not raised enough money in ticket sales which he said had been stated in terms and conditions, but I wasn’t aware of that.”
Loretta was also handed a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of prosecco during the doorway visit.
Elliot claimed a clause in the terms and conditions meant he didn’t have to give her the mansion.
The house would only be given away if the ticket sales exceeded £2.5million, according to a now-deleted post on the website.
Elliot said: “If sales targets for the competition had been reached my house would have been sold for a minimum of £2million with legal fees and stamp duty but they were not and the winner, through no fault of mine, did not get the house but a much smaller cash prize.”
But Loretta has been left devastated after her hopes of leaving the couple’s £350-a-month rented flat were dashed.
Most read in Money
Elliot has claimed there is “no tangible link” between himself and the competition organisers Win My Home.
He said the firm approached him to raffle off the property – but couldn’t explain why the company was registered to his address.
Yesterday, MailOnline claimed Elliot has been in a relationship with the sole director, businesswoman Yevheniia Levytska, 29, for five years.
Win My Home posted the video of Loretta on their website with the caption: “Congratulations to our Winner, Loreta from Nottingham!
“Newly married of 2.5 months, she and her husband have been looking to buy their first home together!
“We’re so happy for you both and wish you all the best for your next chapter.”
It comes after a mum won her £2million dream home and £100,000 on her birthday.
Sun Online has contacted Elliot for comment.
