A COUPLE who won a stunning £1.4million home were left fuming when they arrived to find half of the house missing.
Kevin and Andrea Griffin, who bagged the expansive Australian pad, said it was stripped of decorative and luxury items when they turned up.
@LMCT+ /instagramKevin and Andrea Griffin, who bagged the expansive Australian pad, said it was stripped of decorative and luxury items[/caption]
@adrian_portelliThe previous owner, Melbourne property tycoon Adrian Portelli, has slammed allegations that he ‘stole’ items from the house[/caption]
lmctplus’The couple won the house in a giveaway, describing it as their “dream home”[/caption]
The couple accused the previous owner of removing over £33,600 worth of goods from the house, in Gisborne.
The previous owner, Melbourne property tycoon Adrian Portelli, has slammed the allegations that he ‘stole’ items from the house.
But CCTV taken a day after it was ‘sold’ shows Portelli and a group of men removing items including wine, a meat smoker, treadmill, kitchen appliances and a robotic lawnmower.
He has since announced a £50,000 giveaway for all the items that were removed from the house.
Kevin and Andrea discovered the clip when they went through their “dream homes’” security footage after moving in and posted it online.
Andrea told the Herald Sun: “We were just like, what the hell?
“Why has he done this?”
They won the home in a giveaway after paying for membership in Portelli’s business LMCT+ for over a year.
Members are entered into exclusive competitions, with prizes including homes, bikes, cars and boats.
The business, founded in 2018, sells subscriptions which cost up to £50 a month.
Portelli said in a video online that the items taken “weren’t part of the giveaway”.
“It was just part of the show, it wasn’t in our t’s and c’s (terms and conditions).
“Our t’s and c’s say this is a fully-furnished house, which is what we delivered on.
“Whatever I do with these items is up to me. Wherever I want to use them personally or I want to use them to stage future giveaway houses, who bloody cares.
“Unfortunately, it’s people like this that ruin it for everyone and it makes us not want to do things like this again,” he added.
The businessman also said he’s been sent abuse and threats as a result of the couple’s claims.
Some messages have labelled him and his team “thieves” following the release of the CCTV clip online.
He also said he’s been issued legal letters.
The Australian entrepreneur also released “behind the scenes footage” of the couple touring their new home, where they appear to pick faults with the property.
His business is currently under investigation in two states over allegations that it broke gambling laws.
South Australia’s Consumer and Business Services and the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission are both investigating complaints about LMCT+.
CCTV footage from the house shows Portelli removing items from inside with his team
lmctplus’The couple accused the previous owner of removing over £33,600 worth of goods from the £1.4million house[/caption]
lmctplus’The luxury pad is in Gisborne, just over 50km from Melbourne[/caption]
@adrian_portelliLMCT+, which Portelli (pictured, centre) founded in 2018, is being investigated over allegations that it broke gambling laws[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
