A rapist serving life in prison has won £7m on the National Lottery, it emerged last night.

Iorworth Hoare, formerly of Seacroft Gate, Leeds, was on temporary release from a North-East bail hostel when his numbers came up in the Lotto Extra draw last Saturday.

His catalogue of crimes includes one rape, two attempted rapes and three indecent assaults.

According to a national newspaper, 52-year-old Hoare, a coalminer's son, began a series of sex attacks while he was still in his 20s and was sentenced to a total of 18 years between 1973 and 1987.

He was finally jailed for life at Leeds Crown Court, in May 1989, for attempting to rape a 60-year-old woman in a park in the city.

Bizarrely, he was trapped by a photograph he sent to a television station in an effort to be chosen for the Winner Takes All quiz show.

Before his Lottery win Hoare was a category D prisoner at Leyhill open prison, near Gloucester.

He was on weekend leave from South Bank bail hostel, near Middlesbrough, when he won his £7,039,469 fortune.

Under Home Office guidelines prisoners in open conditions - on a day release or community project - are allowed to take part in the Lottery and claim prizes.

They can also gamble on the football pools and buy Premium Bonds.

Other prisoners told the newspaper Hoare looked "really smug" when he told them of his luck and reportedly said: "I'm made for life now."

He added: "I'm going to be sound for the rest of my life. I'll do well from here on in till the day I die."

A Prison Service spokes-man confirmed last night that a prisoner had won the Lottery.

He said: "We are aware a prisoner on release on a temporary licence has participated in the Lottery and we understand that he has won a substantial amount."

After the win, Hoare was moved to a closed prison for security and his own safety.

It is understood a reassessment of his security status is being carried out.

According to the newspaper, Hoare was once told by a judge: "Every moment you are at liberty, some woman is at risk."

It is reported that his most brutal crimes were in 1983 when he indecently assaulted a teacher and raped a 37-year-old housewife.

His attacks were described in court as "ferocious, terrifying and degrading".

It is believed Hoare married in Wakefield Cathedral in 1993, but his present marital status is unknown.

National Lottery operator Camelot said it could not confirm or deny the names of the winners.

A spokeswoman said: "We had three Lotto Extra winners and one Lottery winner.

"One of the Lotto Extra winners has still not claimed.

"The other winners were all no-publicity winners, so we are unable to release any details about them."

Hoare is not the first Lottery winner to be serving a jail sentence.

Former dustman Michael Carroll, 21, of Downham Market, Norfolk, who won a £9.7m jackpot, was jailed for five months a few weeks ago for various drugs offences after he breached a drugs testing and treatment order.