Dad of jinxed Lotto winner found hanged

AN ILL-FATED lottery winner has been hit by a new tragedy - the suicide of the beloved father who shared his £5.5million jackpot.

Lawrence Candlish's dad Frank, 57, was found hanged by a washing line at the family's dream home in Alicante, Spain.

Devastated neighbours said they believed recent money worries and ill-health may have led Frank - who ran a tourist bar with his 35-year-old son - to take drastic action. They told how he had previously attempted to take his life in December.

One said: "It's an awful tragedy. He was a quiet man, a very nice man. He was very popular. But he had a hard winter. Business was not good."

Another said: "Frank told me only a short time ago the doctor had diagnosed all sorts of things. I'm sure it was these problems that led him to do what he did." Frank's body was found by his daughter Melanie, 36, in one of five villas he owned in Gran Alacant - a suburb popular with ex-pats.

The family had moved there from Gateshead three years ago.

On July 9, they and pals spent the evening at nearby Flannagans, the Irish pub run by Lawrence and Frank.

But Frank left early and walked home alone.

Thugs

Police, who were called at 1am, say investigations so far point to suicide.

Frank, wife Jenny and Melanie were living with Lawrence in the family's £35,000 semi when he scooped the lottery in 1997.

Lawrence was 23 and earning £150 a week as a factory machinist when he got his dog to pick the numbers by chewing on a playslip.

He was named in the Rich List as one of Britain's welathiest under-30s - but shared his millions with his family, even giving his 11 aunts and uncles £100,000 each.

He said all he wanted for himself was a double hip replacement because he suffered from the crippling brittle bone disease and had been on the NHS waiting list for more than a year. The generous lad also splashed £400,000 on buying seven houses in the same street so he and his closest relatives could live near each other.

The road, Chaucer Close, became known as Lotto Lane by locals. But a few months after the win, Lawrence's best pal David Martin, 38, died after a heart op.

At the time Lawrence said: "I'd give all the money I won to get him back."

Two years later, in 2000, the family were forced out of Gateshead by jealous thugs who poured petrol over their cars and homes.

They settled on the Costa Blanca, where Frank bought several properties and a share in the bar. It is also believed he had shares in other businesses including a building project in Murcia.

The area has been hit by the recession, with a string of tourist haunts closing.

Fumes

A neighbour told us: "Frank was very popular. He was always helping people. If someone had a problem he would step in and help quietly. He was very generous.

"But lately he always seemed to have a long face, as if he was concerned about something.

"People have been saying that he had money problems but I can't see that."

Another neighbour said: "I heard he tried to kill himself with carbon monoxide fumes before Christmas. But Lawrence pulled him out of the car."

When we approached the family, Melanie said: "We don't want to say anything at all."

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