A stunning six-bedroom Tudor-era house in Batheaston, Somerset, worth £4 million, recently won in an Omaze giveaway, has been defaced with graffiti. On Wednesday, May 14, black spray paint appeared on the exterior walls, with threatening words stating “house is next,” shocking local residents.
Located just a few miles from Bath city centre, this remarkable property was awarded along with a £250,000 cash prize by Omaze, a fundraising organisation that offers luxury prizes through charitable draws. Participants buy entries for a chance to win, with proceeds split between the charity and Omaze itself. Other prizes can include cars and holidays.
Batheaston residents expressed their dismay at the vandalism. One local commented, “Such a shame to see graffiti over the Omaze house gates and walls, the poor owners must be wondering what kind of place they’ve moved to.”
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The fundraising campaign for the Batheaston estate raised an impressive £4.6 million for the British Heart Foundation, instantly making the winners, Paul Knight, 47, and his partner Justin Snowdon, 36, multi-millionaires. Paul recalled the surreal moment he found out he had won after investing just £20.
“When I got a message from Omaze, I was actually sitting on the toilet at work reading about a lost lottery ticket, thinking that would be just my luck—but how wrong was I!? I had to sneak off work early to meet the Omaze team and learn exactly what I’d won—and it was totally worth it," he said.
Paul described the experience: “I knew something was up when I saw all the cameras—I thought, ‘this isn’t for a £10 gift voucher, is it?’ When they revealed I’d won a £4 million country house, I was utterly gobsmacked. It was all so crazy—I barely had time to process it before rushing back to work.”
Despite the life-changing win, Paul stayed grounded. “I was tempted to say ‘drinks are literally on the house’ when I got back, but it was all so surreal I just told one colleague and got on with my shift. She said, ‘You’re a millionaire now—you don’t need to be clearing tables.’”
The vandalism has cast a shadow over what should have been a joyous occasion for the new owners, sparking concern in the local community about safety and respect for the historic property.