A convicted rapist from Kings Langley could have had his fake £2.5m winning lottery ticket made for him by a “fraud expert” inside Camelot headquarters.

According to the Sunday Mirror, a lottery whistle blower has claimed Giles Knibbs, who worked as a fraud expert for the company’s offices in Tolpits Lane, Watford, printed the ticket using his 24.7 access to ticket printing machines.

It was previously believed Mr Knibbs helped Eddie Putman, who was jailed in 1993 for raping a teenager in Milton Keynes, by tipping him off about the numbers he needed and which shop he needed to buy the ticket from.

The pair became friends after Mr Knibbs employed Mr Putman as a builder, however Mr Knibbs took his own life last year after he was arrested as part of an investigation into claims a dodgy ticket had been used.

Mr Putman, 51, allegedly claimed the prize with a “deliberately damaged” coupon but didn’t face charges over the scam, which took place in 2009.

Camelot were fined £3million by the Gambling Commission over the pay-out.

The Watford Observer previously reported that Putman made the claim after a publicity campaign was launched to find a jackpot winner for a ticket bought in the Worcester area.

READ MORE: Kings Langley rapist accused of using fake Lottery ticket to claim £2.5m jackpot

READ MORE: Watford based National Lottery operator fined £3m for paying out a fraudulent prize claim

No one else came forward to make a stake on the prize then or since and it was understood the barcode on the ticket was unreadable, which meant Camelot was unable to match it to the shop that sold the winning line.

Mr Putnam reportedly splashed out on two sports cars and a new £750,000 home in Kings Langley.

A Camelot spokesperson, who was not named, said: "We appreciate that there’s a great deal of speculation about this case and understand entirely that people want to know the full details.

“However, because of legal, regulatory and security reasons - as well as the fact that the case could well be subject to further police action - I'm unable to confirm or deny speculation in the media about individuals and/or the circumstances of what may have happened."

A Hertfordshire Constabulary spokesperson added: “The case is currently being reviewed by police so we cannot comment at this stage.”