A former couple whose battle over a £3 million national lottery jackpot win went to court have agreed to settle their case.

Maureen Todd, 55, had accused Desmond Congdon, 53, of running off with the winnings after breaking off their engagement. She had demanded half the original total, which would have left him with just £250,000 after what she said were his “extravagances” in a gambling spree.

However, yesterday Mrs Todd left the High Court saying nothing. When her former fiancé was asked if he would be drinking a glass of champagne, he replied: “Absolutely.”

The judge who heard the case, which had begun on Wednesday, said he was “delighted” that the case had come to a close. He had been told by Ber-nard Weatherill, QC, for Mrs Todd, that the parties had agreed confidential terms.

Philip Cayford, QC, representing Mr Congdon, told the judge: “Mr Congdon is very happy the matter has settled.”

The judge, who does not have to agree to the settlement terms, did not look at the figures agreed.

On Wednesday Mr Justice Kitchin had been told that before the win, Mr Congdon had moved into Mrs Todd’s home in Melksham, Wiltshire, and had promised to marry her. Mr Congdon bought the winning ticket in Southampton while they were out shopping in 2004. They bought a house together in Hampshire, and Mrs Todd still lives there.

In June 2005, Mr Congdon, who lives in northwest London, broke off their engagement despite the couple having spent £20,000 on a wedding planned for the following August.

Earlier in the case the court was told that Mrs Todd claimed it was pure chance that Mr Congdon had joined the queue for lottery tickets rather than her and that they were in the lottery “together”.

Mr Congdon had insisted that he had done the lottery since it got under way, always buying his own tickets. There was also a dispute in the case about who provided the cash that secured the winning ticket.

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