A former police officer who scooped £2.2 million on the lottery has been jailed for throttling his partner.

Tony Stubley was living in Chatham and working for the Metropolitan Police in London when he matched all six numbers on the National Lottery online draw in August 2004.

He was presented with his prize at a lavish ceremony by members of the punk band The Stranglers.

Nearly 11 years later, Stubley, pictured, is now serving five years and four months in prison after admitting the attack.

A court heard how Stubley, who is now 50, of Lower Coombe Street, Croydon, launched an unprovoked attack on his new partner in September last year.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of grievous bodily harm with intent. A court heard the couple were at their home when Stubley grabbed her and put both hands around her throat. He then choked her until she was unconscious.

When she awoke she had been gagged and her hands were tied.

After the ordeal Stubley untied her and she was able to call her family who collected her and she later reported the matter to police.

Stubley was 39 when he scooped the jackpot.

He had been waiting for a train home from London to Medway when he read his numbers had come up in a newspaper.

At the time he said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw they were my numbers, but had no idea how much I had won.”

Stubley immediately called his partner at the time and asked her to check his emails.

He added: “She wouldn’t tell me how much I had won over the phone, but said I should come home straight away.”

Stubley had been a police officer for 15 years when he claimed the cash and said he was going to spend his winnings on buying a new house, a Skoda car and a holiday. At the time, he also said he wanted to buy his own wood.

His cheque was presented to him by his favourite band, The Stranglers, at Eltham Palace and he immediately gave up work, as did his partner.

"He will be in custody for a substantial period of time and we hope that the victim can move on from this violent incident" - DC Andrew Brown

Six years later the couple, who are believed to have split up in 2011, found themselves back in the news when they spoke out about wanting to go back to work.

After the lengthy career break they spoke to a newspaper about how they wanted to return to work as they missed the discipline of having a job.

DC Andrew Brown, from Croydon’s community safety unit, said after the case at Croydon Crown Court: “Stubley has been convicted of a violent domestic assault against his partner.

“He will be in custody for a substantial period of time and we hope that the victim can move on from this violent incident.

“We would urge anybody in an abusive relationship to take action.

“Either call the police or get in touch with the National Domestic Abuse Helpline.”

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