Nurse who claimed fireman ex 'lovebombed' her with cash is told by court to return £40,000

A nurse who claimed her firefighter ex 'lovebombed' her with cash after scooping a £200,000 scratchcard win has been ordered to hand back £40,000 of his prize money after he sued.

Heather Douglass stormed out of the virtual court hearing after being told she would need to return the cash to Craig Titchener.

Mr Titchener, a Heathrow Airport firefighter, scooped his big win on a Winter Wonderlines scratchcard in 2019. He told a judge he had hoped to use the cash to help him buy a house for himself and his children.

To that end, he handed Ms Douglass – his girlfriend at the time – around £40,000 so that she could use her 'financial savvy' to invest it for him. He also transferred £5,000 to her, but the court ruled it was a gift.

The nurse contested the claim, alleging that he spoiled her with the larger cash sum to 'get back into her good books' when they quarrelled during their 'volatile' 11-month relationship.

But last year, District Judge Charlotte Hart ruled that it had been meant for investment – and has ordered her to pay it back.

It brings to an end a fiery case that saw the pair trading barbs in a tiny courtroom at Central London County Court. 

Ms Douglass told the earlier civil trial that Mr Titchener had 'lovebombed' her, and told him in court: 'You sent me money because you were desperate to be in a relationship with me.'

The firefighter denied this, firing back: 'Why would I have transferred half of my life savings just to be in a relationship with you?'

She replied: 'You want women to be with you and you struggle when you're on your own. You're very controlling and this was a relationship wholly based on control. You believe that you can buy people.'

The defendant, who has ADHD, told the judge she had spent much of the money with her ex's agreement, splurging on a holiday in Thailand for them both and home improvements.

'Part of my diagnosis is that I have an addiction to over-spending,' she said.

District Judge Hart found in favour of Mr Titchener last year – noting there was 'very little evidence' of a controlling relationship, as his ex had asserted.

The contested case returned to court again last week for a hearing via a remote video link, where Judge Hart, after hearing further evidence, struck out claims that some of the £40,000 had been spent with the firefighter's consent.

The court was told that Ms Douglass had been ordered to file a witness statement together with her bank statements in order to show when and where the money was spent – but that she had failed to produce these, breaching a court order.

Speaking at the remote hearing, Mr Titchener argued that he should get the £40,000 back in full because she had failed to submit full evidence of her finances. 

Ms Douglass claimed she had changed her email address and that her bank had refused to provide statements. This did not persuade the judge.

'The failure to produce the bank statements as directed is a serious and significant breach of the court order,' Judge Hart said.

'The order was in terms that unless the bank statements were exhibited, the claimant was entitled to enter judgment in the sum of £40,000,' she added.

'I am satisfied that there is no good reason for the breach.'

As she was told the case was not ending in her favour and that she would have to pay her ex £40,000, Ms Douglass stormed out of the virtual hearing.

Turning off the video link, she told the judge: 'I am going to leave because I don't agree with any of this. Goodbye.'