Inside drug fuelled downfall of £13million lottery winner who blew fortune in three years & saw his life fall to pieces

A MAN who won £13million in the lottery managed to blow his fortune in just three years. Powerball winner Joshua Winslet enjoyed the riches momentarily before his empire came spiralling down after a disastrous drug-fuelled lifestyle. FacebookJoshua Winslet squandered his £13million Powerball fortune on booze and drugs[/caption] Courts SAA mysterious bowl of white powder was found in his fridge in the New Port mansion[/caption] Courts SACops raided his trashed party pad in August 2020 and arrested the Australian lotto winner[/caption] Courts SARubbish, clothes and takeaway cartons were strewn across the floor[/caption] The Aussie was 22-years-old when he scooped the huge jackpot in 2017. But as he began to get a taste of the highlife, he quickly ditched his day job and turned to a life of debauchery. And despite Joshua’s parents managing his winnings through a trust fund – he managed to access enough cash to fund his “hedonistic” pleasures. Unfortunately, the former tradesman then became “hopelessly addicted” to drugs. Shocking images released by South Australia’s District Court showed the inside of his trashed New Port mansion, providing an insight into his self-indulgence. Empty bottles of booze, bongs, bags of MDMA, cocaine and marijuana appeared to be littered around the bachelor pad. Nitrous oxide canisters, cigarettes and half-drunk glasses of wine were also seen strewn across a marble table. Another snap showed a large bowl filled with a mystery white powder inside his fridge, alongside a pack of Red Bull cans and beer boxes. Chaotic jumbles of rubbish and clothes remained dumped on the floor as the home was left in an “appalling” state. Cops raided the “party house” in 2020 and found an unlicensed firearm Mauser handgun and ammunition hidden in his bathroom. A horde of illegal substances that included 28.3 grams of MDMA and 2.27g of cocaine, were also seized. The police probe came as investigators received a tip-off the lottery winner was allegedly manufacturing drugs at the property. Winslet, now 27, pleaded guilty to supplying MDMA and possessing a firearm without a licence. The Adelaide District Court heard how his life began to unravel soon after he won his millions. The former plumber quit his job before snapping up properties in South Australia and New Zealand. Judge Heath Barklay said Winslet then “lost motivation” for life and adopted a “hedonistic lifestyle”, slipping into regular drug use. He said: “Because of the money that you had won, there was no motivation on your part to work or do anything other than enjoy yourself. “You had lots of money so you could afford to buy large amounts of drugs, which you would use yourself and supply to your so-called friends from time to time.” His party pals would “run amok” in his home, with one friend even storing a firearm and bullets in the roof. The judge said the proximity of the firearm to regular drug users vastly increased the chances it could be used for “an unlawful purpose.” The court also heard how Winslet underwent a string of surgeries as a child to treat Duane syndrome and Goldenhar syndrome. Duane syndrome occurs when the eye muscles do not develop properly, which results in difficulties rolling one or both eyes outward or inward. Goldenhar syndrome causes abnormalities in the formation of the bones in the face and head, which can lead to facial asymmetry, a partially-formed or absent ear, benign cysts on the eye, spinal issues, and can impact internal organs. Winslet was born with a singular horseshoe-shaped kidney and an irregular heartbeat, stopping him from playing contact sports. To try and correct his physical abnormalities, he underwent plastic surgery after being bullied during his time at school. The court heard how the now 27-year-old’s arrest served as “a wake up call”. Winslet was sentenced to three years and nine months, with a non-parole period of 18 months. The sentence was suspended on a two-year good behaviour bond, with supervision. Another big lotto winner’s life ended in tragedy after he was shunned for bagging the £18m jackpot. While a man who once raked in a £100,000 jackpot – now steals trainers and earns £300 a week. Courts SAPolice found drugs and an unlicensed firearm at the property[/caption] Courts SAOne so-called friend even stashed a gun and bullets in the roof of the grimy pad[/caption] Courts SARemnants of his debaucherous lifestyle were left littered across a marble table[/caption] Courts SAThe 27-year-old kept a framed congratulations from Powerball in his filthy mansion[/caption] Courts SAThe court heard how drug users saw Winslet as a ‘free ride’ and ‘run amok’ in his bachelor pad[/caption]