Pedophile wins $3 million lottery prize

A 205kg pedophile has claimed a $3 million lottery prize in the US, angering his neighbours who say the money should go to his victims.

The Florida Lottery quickly pulled down images of 43-year-old Timothy Poole after learning about his criminal past, the Orlando Sentinel reports.

Poole served three years behind bars after pleading guilty to molesting two boys under the age of 12 in 2002, just one several violent charges on his record.

He was reportedly working as a taxi driver and dispatcher at his mother's taxi company when he bought the $20 scratchie at a 7/11 store at the weekend.

Now all that looks set to change, with his friends telling reporters the good fortune was most likely karma.

"He's a very positive person. Very kind, giving, I think that's why he won," Floyd Snyder told clickorlando.com.

"It's Christmas time and the dude deserves a break."

Poole sacrificed $800,000 of his winnings to take home a $3 million one-time lump-sum payment and is reportedly looking at starting up a business.

Despite people's complaints, the Florida Lottery declined to intervene, saying that anyone can play the lottery.