‘I handed keys to my £3million James Bond Omaze house back days after winning’

What started out as a dream come true for Omaze winner Glen Elmy allegedly became a waking nightmare after he uncovered one major problem.

On the surface, the sleek, Bond-style property, complete with an infinity pool and stunning coastal views, looked like absolute heaven.

However, back in October 2021, the foundry worker was left utterly stunned after winning Stealth House in Devon, and it’s not hard to see why.

Speaking about his win at the time, delighted dad Glen said: “I’m totally gobsmacked. The only thing we’ve ever won before was three pounds at a Bingo night on holiday.

“We absolutely love the house-if I could have designed one from scratch, it would look just like this-it’s like something from a Bond film.”, reports Glasgow Live.

“We will be keeping it as there’s no other house like it in the country – so why would we want to sell it? My wife Debbie lost her father to Covid this year, and our youngest son was made redundant last week, so winning this house is just what the family needed – it’s life-changing for all of us.

“This house is so spectacular we’re going to enjoy our first family holiday for two years right here. I don’t think we’d find a better place anywhere else in the world!”. Glen, originally from Walsall in the West Midlands, reportedly only spent three days at the property before concerns about cliff erosion allegedly forced him to leave, as per Devon Live.

Mail Online reports Glen handed back the keys to Omaze, asking for the cash equivalent of the house’s £3 million value.

Since then, it’s believed he hasn’t returned to Stealth House on the North Devon coastline, according to the Mirror.

A source said: “I met Mr Elmy when he was here for the publicity. He was apparently planning to stay for a week but left after three days and that was the last we saw of him. The corner of the house goes almost to the cliff edge, it’s about two metres away from the edge.”

In contrast, an anonymous local neighbour added: “I never see anybody going in or out since the win. There is all sorts of speculation that it can’t be insured because of how close it’s been built to the sea and on the cliff edge. There is a problem with coastal erosion all along the coast here. There are signs around the beach warning about falling rocks.

“When I moved in five years ago, it was on the market for £2.5 million, but nobody wanted it. When the competition was running, we saw cars coming and going, but soon after the winner was announced, that stopped, and there’s been nothing since.”

However, a spokesperson from Omaze has robustly refuted any speculation about the structural integrity of the luxury property, categorically denying allegations that the house is ‘tumbling into the sea’.

They provided firm reassurances in their statement: “As with all its properties, Omaze carried out extensive professional surveys, searches and inspections prior to purchasing the house in Devon. Omaze can confirm that none of these reports raised any material concerns with the property, including in relation to coastal erosion. The property is fully insurable.”

It seems Glen’s situation isn’t unique amongst Omaze winners. Despite the initial thrill of winning their dream homes, some have reportedly faced unforeseen challenges following their victory.

Back in August 2022, Leicestershire couple Uttam Parmar and his wife Raki won a “fantastic” £3 million property along the Cornish coast, offering stunning views across the Camel Estuary. However, they allegedly had to leave the home just eight weeks later, according to the Mail; claims that Omaze has contested.

In another instance, grandmother June Smith, who won a six-bedroom property in Fowey, Cornwall, in May 2023, chose to sell swiftly after just one visit to the extraordinary home – which locals reportedly nicknamed a “fishbowl”. There have certainly been triumphs with Omaze competitions, one of the most touching being Lauren Keene – who became the youngest ever winner last year by securing a five-bedroom house straight from a Hollywood Hills fantasy in the Wirral.

The ecstatic winner exclaimed: “The house is unreal! It really does feel like something you’d find in the Hollywood Hills! It’s made for parties, and we can’t wait to get everyone we know up here for a big bash!”.