A man in Madrid faced a horrific betrayal after winning a substantial prize in Spain's famed Christmas Lottery, finding himself kidnapped and tortured by three friends who tried to steal his winnings.
A Festive Win Turns into a Nightmare
The victim, identified by Spanish journalist Antonio Blanco on the TV show En boca de todos as Carlos, participated in the traditional Christmas Lottery draw in December last year. On 22 December, the draw date, it was revealed he had won a prize of €25,000, equivalent to roughly £13,000 at the time.
Upon learning of his windfall, three of his so-called friends—named by the journalist as Rudolf, Javier, and Alberto—plotted to rob him. Their plan began with violence, as they first drove to the home of another acquaintance of Carlos, a man named Leopoldo. They assaulted him until he agreed to lead them to the lottery winner's address.
The Violent Kidnapping and Torture
The gang lay in wait outside Carlos's home in their car. When Carlos eventually emerged with another friend, Alejandro, the criminals forced both men back inside the property. There, they tied up the pair.
In a brutal attempt to coerce Carlos, the attackers clubbed him over the head with a heavy metal pan and threatened him at gunpoint with a pistol. Under this extreme duress, Carlos was forced to hand over his bank account details.
With the information secured, the trio then compelled Alejandro to transfer the prize money into his own account. They subsequently sent him to a bank to withdraw the cash physically.
The Girlfriend's Brave Intervention and Arrests
In a further attempt to control the situation, the criminals ordered Carlos to text his girlfriend, instructing her to stay away from the house. Alarmed by the strange message, she went to the address immediately to check on him.
Upon her arrival, the assailants also threatened her with the firearm. They demanded to see her identification to obtain her home address. After releasing her, they issued a dire warning: if she contacted the police, they would kill not only her but her entire family.
Defying their threats, Carlos's girlfriend immediately notified the police as soon as she was clear of the house. Officers rushed to the scene and successfully arrested Rudolf, Javier, and Alberto.
The robbers' plan ultimately failed, and they never collected the stolen funds. According to reports from El Español, the trio now face prison sentences of between three and six years for charges including assault and torture.
A Pattern of Lottery Prize Theft
This shocking case is not an isolated incident of lottery winnings being targeted. In a separate report from October 2024, a UK winner also fell victim to theft.
Andros Kyriacou, a 62-year-old baggage handler from Stanstead, won a cash prize in the EuroMillions HotPicks draw. However, the money somehow ended up in a stranger's bank account. Kyriacou suspected a postman might have been involved in the theft.
A spokesperson for Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, confirmed they were investigating the claim. They stated a cheque had been issued to the player on the day the claim was made and was later cashed. The company is working with the relevant bank to resolve the matter and has assured that all players receive the prizes they are entitled to.
Spain's Christmas Lottery, drawn every 22 December, remains the country's biggest and most popular annual draw, an event now marred by this tale of grievous betrayal and violence.
