MILLIONAIRE lotto rapist Iorworth Hoare is said to be on the verge of quitting Britain.

The sex offender, who won £7m on the National Lottery, has angered residents since he bought a six-bed house in the Northumberland community of Darras Hall, close to the home of Newcastle United star Alan Shearer.

It was reported by one national newspaper yesterday that he intends to move to New Zealand to start afresh.

The move is said to have been agreed by the Home Office and authorities in New Zealand, who will give him a new identity.

Meanwhile, neighbour Claire Redhead, 39, is to move after receiving threats, including bullets through the post and a letter claiming she had made friends with Hoare.

Mrs Redhead, a school supervisor, has not yet put her house on the market, but is leaving anyway for the sake of her son and daughter.

She said: "I am moving out of here next week. My children are terrified here. Him moving in has really upset us."

Hoare, 53, was spending weekend prison leave in Middlesbrough in August 2004 when he bought the winning ticket. Since 1973, he has spent most of his life behind bars for offences including rape, attempted rape and indecent assault.

Hoare is also the subject of a postal hate campaign. The convicted rapist received a letter telling him to leave the area or face physical harm. The letter said the vigilantes had already hired someone to do the job for them.