Sunderland lottery winner says he was consumed with money worries '“ and isn't planning on giving up work

A Sunderland dad who scooped £1m on a lottery scratchcard says he won't be giving up work anytime soon.
33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery
33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard. Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery

Kenny Ashton, 33, works as a door-to-door salesman for a windows company but despite his win says he won’t be giving up his day job.

The father-of-four, whose wife Gillian, 26, is due to give birth to the couple’s first son, Braxson, on Thursday, said the money couldn’t have come at a better time as they worried over how they would cope paying this month’s direct debit payments.

33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery
33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard. Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery
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Mr Ashton, a keen karaoke singer who once auditioned for the X-Factor, said: “Like everyone, life is hard. We were wondering how we were going to pay our direct debits this week.

“Work hadn’t been going very well for me these past few weeks.

“It’s just crazy now that we aren’t going to have these worries anymore.

“We aren’t extravagant people and we haven’t gone mad looking at things.

33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery
33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard. Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery
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“But what we have been looking at is a family home. At the moment we live in a two-bedroomed home which isn’t ideal.

“We’ve also bought a couple of sensible cars, a seven seater so we can go out as a family in one car and a little focus for the wife.

“But we won’t be going mad. All we want is to live comfortably and be able to support our children.

“Being in the position we were, it has made us a lot more cautious about the money and how we will spend it.”

33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery
33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard. Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery
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Kenny, who is dad to Joshua, 10, Kian-Shay, eight, Matthew, five, from a previous relationship and Amelia, two, said he had dreamed of the scratchcard lottery win only a few nights before he visited the Sainsbury’s store in Team Valley in Gateshead, while on a lunchbreak from work, where he bought the winning ticket.

He added: “I immediately scratched it in the supermarket and I thought I had won £5.

“I was absolutely delighted- I couldn’t believe my luck.

33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard.

Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery
33 year old Kenny Ashton from Sunderland won £1 million on a Scratchcard. Images by Gareth Jones via National Lottery

“As I continued to scratch , it then emerged I had won £1m! I ran over to the security guard and whispered to him, I was shaking. He was talking to me and I remember I just ran off.

“I just couldn’t believe it and the news still hasn’t really sunk in. These past few days have been a complete blur.

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“I hardly ever buy scratchcards, just every now and again. But this isn’t going to change us, my wife wouldn’t allow it to change me. She’s got a good head on her shoulders.”

However, despite keeping his feet firmly on the ground since his win, Kenny, who also loves to watch the wrestling, says the extra cash will enable him to realise his dream of having his own recording studio and possibly take a trip to Florida to watch the wrestling.

Kenny, a former holiday camp entertainer and a singer in a bar in Spain, said: “I love karaoke and it has always been a dream of me to have a recording studio, so maybe now is my chance.

“The whole thing is still surreal and I’m still in shock with it all. When you talk to Gillian it’s like I’ve just won £10.

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“But to be fair to her she has more important things to focus on, ensuring our baby boy is delivered safely - that is our main focus now.

“We are still planning what we will spend the money on, but I am sure a new house - our own family home- will be high up on the shopping list.

“The win just provides us with so many options- it gives us choices - choices we could only have ever dreamt of having.”

The 20 X Cash Scratchcard offers a 1 in 3.50 overall chance of winning a prize. The card costs £5. GameStore is the new home of scratchcards and online Instant Win Games from The National Lottery, offering players many different and exciting ways to play and win life changing prizes. 

The National Lottery changes the lives of winners like Kenny as well as communities across the UK – players raise, on average, over £34m for National Lottery-funded projects every week.