A man serving life for attempted rape has won what is believed to be £7m on the National Lottery.
Iorworth Hoare, 52, was on release from Leyhill open prison in Gloucestershire when he bought his winning ticket for Saturday's Lotto Extra draw.
He is understood to have been staying at a bail hostel in Middlesbrough.
The size of his winnings has not been confirmed by Camelot, but Saturday's £21m Lotto Extra jackpot was shared by three winning tickets.
Hoare was nearing the end of a life sentence after being jailed in 1989 for a number of sex attacks, including attempted rape.
Under Home Office guidelines, prisoners on temporary release from jail are allowed to play the lottery.
The Prison Service confirmed a prisoner had won a lottery prize.
A spokesman said: "We are aware a prisoner on release on a temporary licence has participated in the lottery and we understand that he has won a substantial amount."
But the service would not comment on reports that, following the win, Hoare had been moved to a closed prison for security reasons and his own safety.
National Lottery operator Camelot said it could not confirm or deny the names of Saturday's Lotto Extra winners.
A spokeswoman said: "We had three Lotto Extra winners and one lottery winner. One of the Lotto Extra winners has still not claimed.
"The other winners were all no-publicity winners, so we are unable to release any details about them."
Hoare is not the first lottery winner to be serving time.
Former dustman Michael Carroll, 21, of Downham Market, Norfolk, who won a £9.7 million jackpot, was jailed last month for five months for various drugs offences after he breached a drugs testing and treatment order.
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