A PENSIONER who lost his life savings by replying to junk mail claiming he had won a lottery jackpot, has urged others not to fall into the same trap.

Retired watch and clock repairer Graham Townsend signed thousands of cheques to companies offering to help him claim winnings, after being bombarded with up to 20 items of unsolicited mail a day.

The stress of losing his savings left the diabetic so ill, he was admitted to hospital.

Despite spending more than £30,000 since last summer, he claimed just £64.75, and admits he is now struggling to make ends meet.

It was only when his current account was emptied of cash that Mr Townsend, from Witney, realised that he wasn’t going to win any more cash.

The 78-year-old now wants to warn others.

He said: “When it ended I broke out in a sweat and realised what I had done.

“The offers looked authentic. There were letters saying ‘you have won’. But how wrong I was, and how gullible.”

After responding to two unsolicited letters, claiming he was entitled to a £24m prize, Mr Townsend rapidly became inundated with mail from people claiming to be clairvoyants or offering to claim money on his behalf from prize draws in Australia, Spain, America and Germany.

He believes companies recognised him as a good customer and passed on his details to others.

The pensioner was even woken in the middle of the night by cold callers selling him lottery tickets for Australian prize draws.

After being bombarded with daily calls from salespeople, he was talked into giving out his bank details over the phone.

Mr Townsend’s worried relatives tried to get him to stop responding to the offers and convinced him to talk to his doctor, lawyer and bank manager.

But he maintained faith that much of the unsolicited mail was genuine.

He said: “I was brain washed into thinking I had won. Apparently it’s some kind of syndrome.”

The stress eventually led to stomach problems and complications with his diabetes, and he was last month rushed to Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital.

It was only then that his family realised the extent of the problem.

His niece Geraldine Taylor has now helped him redirect his mail to her house in Kent, change his phone number and remove it from the phone directory.

He is now working with his bank to ascertain the full extent of his losses.

Mr Townsend, who ran the family business G & G Townsend, in Witney, for more than 50 years, said: “When I ended up in hospital the realisation dawned on me and I knew there was no more money in my current account.”

Davina Walkin, of Oxfordshire Trading Standards, said that, although confusing, the letters were not illegal because small print explained the terms and conditions.

But she added: “Once one organisation gets hold of you, they will pass it on to others if they are successful with you.

“The only way to end it is to stop consumers responding in the first place. It comes down to being aware.”

Mr Townsend now has to rely on small private pensions to survive, and has applied for pension credits.

He said: “This was hard-earned money.

“I was thinking of the future and having enough money to last me out. The realisation has come now that I’ve got to find means and ways to live with what I’ve got left in life.”

WHERE TO GET HELP

ANYONE concerned over letters or phone calls from people offering goods or services, should contact Oxfordshire Trading Standards on 0845 051 0845.

Age UK Oxfordshire also offers advice and support to those worried about a relative. Call them on 0844 887 0005.

Advice about your rights as a consumer is also available from the Government-supported Consumer Direct on 08454 040506.

People who have fallen victim to fraud can speak to Victim Support on 0845 3030 900.