UK Firefighter Uses ChatGPT to Win £40,000 Court Case Against Ex-Girlfriend

A UK firefighter has won a court case to recover £40,000 he gave his former girlfriend to invest, after using ChatGPT for legal guidance and representing himself in court. Craig Titchener, 40, had won a £200,000 jackpot on a lottery scratchcard in November 2019.

How the Dispute Began

In 2022, Titchener gave £40,000 to his then-girlfriend, Heather Douglas, 37, a psychiatric nurse, so she could use her financial knowledge to invest the money on his behalf. The court heard the pair had agreed to put the money into Premium Bonds and share any returns. After their relationship ended, Douglas refused to return the money.

Turning to AI for Legal Help

Titchener, a father of two and Heathrow firefighter, said solicitors had asked for fees he could not afford. He turned to ChatGPT, which provided step-by-step guidance on completing the necessary forms so he could present his own case at Central London County Court. He said representing himself was a risk but that he had little to lose, and that he might not have won without ChatGPT's help.

The Court's Ruling

Douglas told the court the £40,000 had been given to her as a gift, but she failed to prove this and did not provide bank statements to support her claim. The court ruled in Titchener's favour last week. Douglas separately accused Titchener of trying to control and harass her.