Lotto winner returns to work at Tesco just weeks after £3.8m windfall

Lucky lottery winner Jonny Johnston has returned to his job as a Tesco delivery driver in freezing conditions despite becoming a multi-millionaire.

Dedicated Fermanagh man Jonny bagged a £3.8m lucky dip jackpot in the mouth of Christmas, much to the delight of partner Christina Williams and the couple’s wider family.

Despite the huge windfall, sources said the 45-year-old was reluctant to sit on the shelf and was determined to return to work, doing just that last week.

Hard-working Jonny braved icy conditions which left much of Northern Ireland paralysed to ensure groceries were delivered across Co Fermanagh.

He was spotted loading and unloading boxes of shopping from his van while chatting and smiling with chilly customers.

“It hasn’t gone to his head at all. It shows you just how down to earth he is. Fair play to him,’’ a source told us.

Driving jobs at Tesco pay roughly £12 per hour, £1,200 a month depending on shifts, with Jonny potentially earning up to eight times that figure in interest on his big win.

Coutts, the King’s bank, offers millionaire accounts with attractive interest rates for some of the UK’s wealthiest people and could see Jonny earning upwards of £180,000 in a single year.

Jonny and partner of 25 years, Christina (46), became multi-millionaires after matching all six numbers on Saturday, December 16, last year.

The couple went public following their big win and revealed it was a lucky dip, as opposed to their regular numbers of 20 years, which secured the jackpot.

Jonny had been delivering festive goodies for Tesco in Enniskillen just before he discovered his incredible stroke of luck.

After completing his rounds on December 16, he enjoyed a festive night out with work colleagues before spotting a familiar message from The National Lottery on his email announcing there was “good news about his ticket”.

Suspecting he had won a lucky dip, however, he went to bed as normal while thinking not much of it.

On the Sunday morning he was prompted to check the National Lottery app once more and realised this was no ordinary win.

Speaking at the time, Jonny said: “I was sitting on the edge of the bed on Sunday morning trying to make sense of what I was seeing. I just kept staring at the numbers on my account.

“I thought maybe I had won £38,000 but then there were too many zeros. I passed the phone to Christina for her to check and she was in disbelief too. We both began to think that it was a trick, a scam even.

“We decided we had better call Camelot and double-check.

“The kids were silent at first, looking at both of us in disbelief. And then the screaming and shouting started and everyone was jumping around the kitchen, cheering. Seeing as it was still early, we popped the kettle on and toasted the amazing news with a cup of coffee.”

The couple kept the news a secret before Jonny returned to work a click and collect shift at his Tesco store on December 23.

The couple have said they plan to use their newfound wealth to provide financial security for their family, as well as to indulge in some well-deserved leisure time together.

They have three children — two sons aged 23 and 19, and a daughter aged 20, and have never been abroad together. Mr Johnston has never even owned a passport.

He said: “I would love for us all to go to the Caribbean, maybe on a cruise as it sounds and looks incredible. We have never had a family holiday together. I just need to apply for my passport first.”

Get ahead of the day with the morning headlines at 7.30am and Fionnán Sheahan’s exclusive take on the day’s news every afternoon, with our free daily newsletter.