EUROMILLIONS WINNER CAUGHT IN DOMESTIC ASSAULT SCANDAL
An Angus woman who previously gained notoriety as a EuroMillions jackpot winner has now appeared in court to admit to a domestic assault on her partner.Alicia Harper, aged 26, made headlines in 2021 after winning £1 million in the EuroMillions.
Recently, she was involved in an incident where she hit her boyfriend with a wooden chair amidst a drunken argument.
The incident occurred in their home in Gowan Street, Arbroath, where police responded to a call in the early hours of June 2.
Harper admitted to the police that she had swung the chair out of frustration.
She appeared at Forfar Sheriff Court and pleaded guilty to a domestically aggravated assault charge at her residence.
The court was informed that Harper and her partner had been living together for about five years.
The night of the assault involved pre-nightclub activities where both were drinking.
After returning home alone, Harper questioned her partner about leaving the nightclub without her.
The court heard that during a confrontation in their study at around 2:45 am, Harper seized a small wooden chair and swung it at her partner's head.
The chair struck his hand, causing pain, which the partner defended himself against.
The couple then stepped outside where the police were called.
Harper was arrested, during which she admitted hitting her partner out of frustration.
Harper’s solicitor, Michael Boyd, stated that she has borderline personality disorder, but emphasized that alcohol consumption was a principal factor in her behavior.
He mentioned she had returned home after the club but left when she couldn’t find her partner, who had meanwhile gone out.
When the partner returned, he was upset that Harper had disappeared, and she was upset about his leaving without informing her.
The court was advised to consider deferring sentencing for six months to allow Harper to demonstrate she can stay out of trouble.
Sheriff Donald Ferguson told Harper, “You are going to demonstrate to the court that there is no repetition of this behaviour,” indicating that there was no basis for a non-harassment order.
The incident coincides with Harper’s history as a winner of the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker in September 2021, when she was pregnant at the time.
She celebrated her win with Irn Bru after nearly forgetting to buy her tickets.
She expressed her desire to pursue her interests in art and animation with her newfound wealth.
