Jack Tanbini, who famously won £100,000 on a scratchcard at the age of 19, appeared in Dundee Sheriff Court this week alongside his accomplice Logan Hards. The court heard chilling details of how the pair tried to kick down a residential door while screaming threats to petrol bomb the property and murder the occupants. The 30-year-old, whose life has spiraled from a fairy-tale win to a gritty criminal record, is already serving a lengthy prison sentence for a separate high-value cocaine operation.
Terrifying Ordeal Caught on Camera
The incident occurred on November 25, 2024, at a flat in Watson Street, Dundee. Prosecutors described a chaotic scene that left the victims inside the property fearing for their lives. Security footage captured Tanbini and Hards arriving at the location and immediately launching a violent assault on the front door.
Fiscal depute Joanne Ritchie provided a harrowing account of the raid to the court. She explained that the duo was seen kicking the door repeatedly while shouting specific and graphic threats. The footage recorded one of the men screaming a chilling ultimatum to the terrified people inside.
“Hear you are away to get murdered,” one of the attackers shouted, according to the court transcripts. The threats quickly escalated to promises of arson. “If you dinnae chuck the money out the windae, you’re about to get petrol bombed. I’m going to kill your mum. Where’s the money?”
A woman’s screams were audible from inside the flat as the attack continued. Despite their initial failure to force entry, the pair did not give up. They returned a short time later and successfully breached the property. They eventually fled the scene carrying a bag of unidentified items, leaving the occupants shaken but physically unharmed.
The brutality of the raid stands in stark contrast to the lucky break Tanbini experienced just over a decade ago. His transition from a fresh-faced winner to a violent offender has shocked the local community.
The Luckiest Day That Went Wrong
Jack Tanbini’s descent into crime is a far cry from the headlines he made in 2014. At just 19 years old, he became the envy of Dundee after turning a simple act of kindness into a £100,000 fortune.
The story of his win was widely reported at the time. Tanbini had helped a delivery driver unload heavy crates at a local newsagent. When he tried to buy a packet of crisps with a £1 coin afterward, the shopkeeper refused his money as a thank you for the help. With the pound coin still in his hand, Tanbini decided to buy a National Lottery scratchcard instead. That impulsive decision revealed a jackpot symbol and a six-figure payout.
He vowed at the time to spend the money wisely. He told reporters he planned to give a generous portion to his mother and save the rest for his future. However, the reality was far different. Within five years, the money was gone.
During a 2019 court appearance for dangerous driving and cannabis possession, Tanbini admitted he had “blown” the entire windfall.1
Key Facts: The Rise and Fall of Jack Tanbini
- 2014: Wins £100,000 on a scratchcard after a “good deed.”
- 2019: Admits in court that all the money is gone.
- 2022: Raided by police who find £150,000 worth of cocaine.
- 2024: Carries out the violent Watson Street raid.
- 2025: Jailed for over 5 years for drug supply.
- 2026: Pleads guilty to the violent home invasion.
A Spiral Into High Level Crime
The raid on Watson Street was not an isolated incident but rather part of a chaotic period in Tanbini’s life. By the time he committed the home invasion in late 2024, he was already deeply involved in the drug trade.
Just weeks after the Watson Street attack, police investigations linked him to a major drug supply operation. In January 2025, he was sentenced at the High Court to five years and five months in prison. Police had raided his home in Easson’s Angle on two separate occasions, uncovering a stash of high-purity cocaine worth an estimated £150,000.
Officers also seized more than £20,000 in cash during those raids. In a subsequent proceeds of crime hearing, it was revealed that Tanbini had generated over £158,000 from his criminal enterprises. However, only a fraction of that amount was available to be confiscated.
His solicitor, Jim Caird, told the Sheriff Court this week that his client is currently serving that sentence and is not expected to be released until late 2029.
“The sentence he received has been absolutely life-changing as he had never been in prison before,” Mr. Caird said, pleading for leniency regarding the new charges. “A very hard lesson has been learned.”
Despite the defense’s claim that there was “no violence on his record” prior to this, the admission of the petrol bomb threats paints a disturbing picture of a man who was willing to go to extreme lengths for money.
Judgment Day Awaits
Sheriff Alastair Carmichael presided over the latest hearing where both Tanbini and Hards admitted to the charges of making threats to kill and forcing entry to the property.
Given the severity of the threats and the terror inflicted on the family, the Sheriff decided not to pass sentence immediately. He deferred the case to allow for the preparation of background reports. Tanbini was remanded back into custody, where he continues to serve his sentence for drug dealing.
Hards, who also pleaded guilty, will learn his fate alongside his former friend. The court has yet to set a final date for the sentencing, but legal experts suggest the violent nature of the raid could add significant time to Tanbini’s already long stay behind bars.
The case serves as a grim reminder of how quickly fortunes can change. For Jack Tanbini, the journey from holding a winning lottery ticket to holding a prison record is now complete. The £100,000 prize that could have set him up for life is long gone, replaced by a legacy of fear, drugs, and incarceration.
Residents of Watson Street can finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing the men responsible for the terrifying night in November 2024 have admitted their guilt.
What do you think about how lottery winners often struggle with their sudden wealth? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
