Woman raffles second house despite death threats

Jennifer Matthews was targeted when people thought she was running a scam

A woman who received death threats and abuse when she raffled off her ''dream'' home is trying the process again three years later.

After being diagnosed with a life-changing heart condition in December 2020, Jennifer Matthews, 51, from Wigan, decided to sell her five-bedroom home in the unusual way.

The Covid-19 lockdown meant the traditional way of selling a house was complicated and Ms Matthews felt overwhelmed about viewings.

But after announcing the raffle online she and her husband, David, 51, received "death threats and handwritten notes" from people who believed they were running a scam.

The first house the couple raffled off in 2020

They are now raffling off a house in Skelmersdale.

The abuse became so overwhelming in 2020 the couple "deleted all social media", Ms Matthews said.

She told BBC Radio Manchester: ''I let the trolls upset me and I regret that because they aren't worth it.

''I said three years ago that I would never do this again because of the trolling, but here I am, I won't let that happen this time.''

Jennifer and her husband David, both 51, reassessed their life after a sudden health condition

The raffle in 2020 was spurred on by Jennifer's health condition after being diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia in 2016, an abnormal heart rhythm.

She said she had "definitely completely reassessed my life" since then, reflecting that previously she had been "always chasing all the time".'

Since her diagnosis the couple, who own several rented properties, have started selling them.

The three bedroom house in Skelmersdale being raffled

Raffall, the platform which allows someone to host a raffle, has terms and conditions that state a minimum of 145,000 tickets need to be sold for the main prize to be given.

If fewer than 145,000 tickets are sold, the winner will receive a cash payment amounting to 50 per cent of the total ticket revenue generated for this competition.

The raffling of properties is legal, but must follow strict guidelines and regulations.