Sunderland man wins £1million on National Lottery Scratchcard - days before new baby is born

A dad from Sunderland has said his dream has literally come true after a premonition led to him winning a £1million top prize on a National Lottery scratchcard
Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.
Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.

Kenny Ashton, 33, said the win could not come at a better time as his wife Gillian, 26, is about to give birth the couple's first son.

He said: "I just cannot believe this has happened to me. I am going through a whole range of emotions, from shock and everything just being a blur, to absolute joy and excitement.

Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.
Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.
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"Gillian is due to give birth on Thursday to our first son together, so the win just couldn't have happened at a better time."

Kenny said he had a dream "National Lottery luck" was on his way before he scooped a million on the 20 X Cash Scratchcard from National Lottery GameStore.

"I had a dream that National Lottery luck was going to come my way, so the following day when I was on my lunch break, I popped into the local supermarket and bought the scratchcard - it was simply the card which really took my eye on the stand.

"I immediately scratched it in the supermarket and I thought I had won £5. I was absolutely delighted - I couldn't believe my luck.

Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.
Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.
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"As I continued to scratch, it then emerged I had won £1million. I just couldn't believe it and the news hasn't really sunk in."

Buying a new cars was something he never thought he would do

After the win was confirmed by organisers Camelot, Kenny immediately went out and made his first purchase - a seven-seater Ford Galaxy for his expanding family - and a new car for his wife.

The 33-year-old also has a three-year-old daughter with Gillian, and three children with a previous partner. The couple live in a two-bedroom rented house.

Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.
Kenny Ashton. Picture by Gareth Jones.
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Kenny, who works as a canvasser selling windows and doors, said going out to order two new cars was something he never believed he would be able to do.

He added: " I won't be giving up work just yet, but this win make things so much easier for us as a family.

"The first thing I did after discovering I had won was to go out and buy two new cars- the people carrier will be fantastic and enable us all to go out together as a family. And it also means Gillian can have her own car too.

"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."