AT first sight, he looks quite a sweetie.

He's 23, nice looking, regular job at a Comet store - and, of course, £10.9 million in the bank as one of Britain's latest lottery winners.

He has been dubbed "Britain's most eligible bachelor" and he is Blackpool boy Karl Crompton.

But female predators will get short shrift from Karl's ma, Pat, who told reporters this week that she would deal with predatory women who came a'courting her newly rich son. No way is any little old-digger getting her bottom on the pillion of the lad's £18,000 Ducati 916 motorcycle.

Mrs Crompton was then photographed with her arms thrown protectively around the lucky young man.

Well, ma'am, you're not the only one who looks out for your offspring.

Three years ago Karl was jailed for nine months for pushing a beer glass into a man's face during a pub brawl. To warrant such a custodial sentence, the attack must have been a pretty mean one. Not even armed with nearly £11 million would he find favour as a suitor for one of my girls.

This is one bachelor who can stick with his mum and his money. We Grahams don't mind our men poor, but we do mind them with a real mean streak.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.