A female cop dating a massive lotto winner had rebuffed him for months before apparently agreeing to go out with him only after he won his GBP 8.5 million jackpot.

Former jailbird Kursat Yildirim – also known as Chico – and the red-headed cop had told the media how they first met when she stopped him for speeding.

Now it had emerged that Chico – from Dortmund, Germany – had been pestering Candice N. for a date for months without success before his big win.

The truth finally emerged on the couple’s new podcast ‘Between Durum and Sushi’ about their life together.

In the podcast, Chico tells 36-year-old Candice: “I’m really, really happy to be with you. You are the best thing that could have happened to me.”

But then the couple also let slip that Candice had rebuffed Chico’s previous wooing and only agreed to a first date after his lotto win, reports local media.

Talking about how she didn’t want to know convicted fraudster Chico before he scooped millions Candice said: “I was filled with enormous preconceptions before we finally got to know each other.”

She added: “I then realised how you really are. You are such a kind and cute person.”

The couple’s paths had first crossed when Candice patrolled Chico’s tough neighbourhood Nordstadt, a crime-riddled sector of Dortmund.

Chico’s parents had moved into the suburb from Turkey when he was just 12 years old.

Candice – who earns EUR 3,200 (GBP 72,000) before tax a month – has been on patrol in the area for many years.

She reportedly did not reply to messages through 2021 and only agreed to see him in December last year – three months after his lotto win.

Candice said she had told police chiefs about the relationship but is ignoring cruel gossip from colleagues.

She said: “I’ve told my superior about it. Of course I notice what is going on.

“There will always be scornful chatter, you cannot avoid it. But I cannot be bothered.”

Candice – whose Instagram fashion channel has nearly 37,000 followers – concluded: “We are inseparable from day one.”

Chico and Candice recently delighted fans with snaps of them on fun fair rides.

In one of the images shared with their followers, Chico is seen holding a giant gingerbread heart with ‘Ich liebe dich’ (I Love You) written on it in icing.

In their new blog, she also revealed that Chico took her to a steak house for their first date, despite her being vegetarian.

But he laughed: “I didn’t know!”

Former drug addict Chico meanwhile boasted about his numerous romantic encounters after making his lottery scoop public.

He said: “There were many girls. They came from Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. I had lots of fun.”

Candice argued: “They wanted the money, you wanted sex. Everyone got what they were aiming for.”

Chico has bought a string of supercars after hitting the jackpot.

And his outspoken attitude toward luxury and his new-found fame has caused controversy.

In a recent video, the social media star who has 872,000 Instagram followers opened up about people’s unscrupulous approaches.

He said: “Of course, everyone has a go. I get messages saying: ‘Hey, send over 40,000, 70,000, 100,000.'”

Chico added: “Listen: I didn’t even give that much money to my mum. Are these people trying to prank me? Who is giving so much money away these days?

“This list of requests is very long. But hey, I got a big family myself.”

He emphasised: “I do help many people. But if they are healthy but just too lazy to work? Sorry, guys.”

Last week, Chico made headlines by teaming up with a pal to give away hundreds of pet food tins to residents in his hometown of Dortmund who are struggling in the cost-of-living crisis.

And in February, the former crane operator organised the transfer of several trucks filled with food and hygiene products to Turkey and Syria after the devastating earthquake.

Candice said: “You know what your family are most proud about? How well you are handling life these days. And about the fact that you found a woman.”

However, the reactions of netizens to Chico’s latest revelations have been mixed.

One social media user – ‘1Mayleena’ – said: “You’ve got a woman with a solid, down-to-earth attitude at your side. All the best for your future!”

‘Heidiosmanaj4361’ added: “I’m delighted you haven’t lost your humanity and helpfulness. Take care of yourself – and your money.”

But ‘Adrian_0fficial’ warned: “Life is posing various challenges each day and this woman is one of them. Keep a clear head and you’ll realise it’s a trap.”

User ‘FrankyG68’ said: “Let’s hope we don’t read about how you’ve already spent all the money.”

And ‘Alifiliz262’ claimed: “As soon as he runs out of money, his cop girlfriend will be gone too.”

Referring to Chico’s confession he was still living with his parents, ‘Florian Beussel’ asked: “Does your new girlfriend share your bedroom at your mum’s place?”

But ‘Deno Bellic’ came out in defence. He commented: “Germany is the unhappiest country in the world. Check the comments section for confirmation.”