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Inside tangled love life of £40m EuroMillions winner who was forced to SUE lover

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Inside tangled love life of £40m EuroMillions winner who was forced to SUE lover
Inside tangled love life of £40m EuroMillions winner who was forced to SUE lover

A EUROMILLIONS winner who scooped an incredible £40million has not been as lucky in love - and was forced to take legal action against a former partner.

Gareth Bull won a permanent injunction preventing Donna Desporte from publishing a book revealing details about their time together.

Gareth Bull won more than £40million in a EuroMillions draw in January 2012 qhiddeiqzkihtprw
Gareth Bull won more than £40million in a EuroMillions draw in January 2012Credit: PA
He took legal action over ex-lover Donna Desporte's book about their fling
He took legal action over ex-lover Donna Desporte's book about their fling

Bull, 52, hit the lottery jackpot in January 2012, scooping £40,627,241 in a EuroMillions draw.

He was married at the time to wife Catherine, and the couple had two sons together.

But they split in 2016 and divorced the following year.

From tongue scraping to saying no, here are 12 health trends to try in 2023From tongue scraping to saying no, here are 12 health trends to try in 2023

Gareth, from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, had a fling with Donna after meeting at a bar in Spanish resort Tenerife in October 2016.

London's High Court granted a permanent injunction in 2019 preventing Donna from publishing details about Gareth in her book.

Bar owner Donna had published an e-book called "Google Me, No Lies" about her nine-month fling with the former bricklayer.

She had spoken about how he wooed her during a lads' holiday in Tenerife using the chat up line: "Google me."

But High Court rulings barred her from publishing passages about Gareth as well as using four photos he had "taken privately".

He was also granted a restraining order in 2021 preventing her from bringing legal action against him.

Donna, in a relationship with Gareth for nine months, had lodged a series of claims causing him "needless ­confusion, anxiety and distress", the High Court ruled.

She had insisted she had a right to publicly speak out on their relationship to hit back at allegations she was a "gold digger".

Yet Mr Justice Julian Knowles said there was no public interest over her writing about their sexual relationship.

He also branded her conduct "totally unacceptable", while saying the ongoing litigation had become so "convoluted" even her own legal team struggled to keep up.

I want my girlfriend to try dirty talk but she won't do itI want my girlfriend to try dirty talk but she won't do it

The judge said: "Donna Desporte has persistently made totally without merit applications in a number of actions over an extended period.

"They have been certified as totally without merit by experienced judges at every level from the Master up to the Court of Appeal.

"These totally meritless applications have occupied a large amount of court time and resources, as well as Gareth Bull’s resources, over a number of years.”

She previously went public on how Gareth, who told her he was separated, took her to glitzy events and on luxury holidays.

'HIGHLY SENSITIVE'

Donna later said she felt "wounded" when the relationship finished and Gareth stopped talking to her.

An injunction barring her from writing about their fling in a "kiss'n'tell" book was first imposed in 2017.

Gareth's lawyers told the High Court the book was "highly sensitive".

And Judge Patrick Moloney granted an order which applies to publications in England and Wales.

His ruling prohibited Ms Desporte from communicating certain information to anyone other than close friends, family and medical advisers.

The Sun Online has approached law firm Howes Percival, which represented Gareth in his High Court proceedings, for comment.

Gareth has previously spoken about the work he carried out on a new dream house, which involved spending time living in a caravan.

He bought a two-acre site with a three-bedroom bungalow in Nottinghamshire in December 2018.

He added a new 6,000sq ft house featuring a swimming pool, a built-in sound system, bars and two hot tubs.

It also has an artificial lake filled with rehomed fish and an accompanying lodge.

He has described the finished property as "extra special" because he did much of the work himself during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

He said: "I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had this to work on.

"It was the perfect distraction with a great reward at the end of it."

Gareth was married to wife Catherine when hitting the jackpot in 2012
Gareth was married to wife Catherine when hitting the jackpot in 2012Credit: Paul Tonge - The Sun
He built a new 6,000sq ft 'dream house' during the Covid-19 lockdown
He built a new 6,000sq ft 'dream house' during the Covid-19 lockdownCredit: PA
His Nottinghamshire property features artificial lake and accompanying lodge.
His Nottinghamshire property features artificial lake and accompanying lodge.Credit: PA

Aidan Radnedge

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