Increased compensation for child abuse victim
A girl who was kidnapped and abused by a man, has been awarded a significant increase in compensation, her injury lawyers said today.
The seven-year-old girl was abducted from her home in Cardiff and abused by the man in January 2006.
The man who abducted the girl while her mother on the phone, was arrested when traffic police in Wiltshire saw him run a red light. He was jailed for life in June 2006.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) initially awarded little over £8,800, which was later increased to £12,177.50.
After the girl's mother launched a further appeal to a tribunal service the compensation amount has been "significantly increased"
The girl's injury lawyers declined to say how much the girl was awarded. She will receive the money when she is 18.
"She is still only seven and at the age of seven it's difficult to say what impact the crime will have on her ultimately," added the injury lawyers.
There were four grounds to the appeal, including the demand that girl be compensated for permanent disabling mental illness.
A CICA spokesman said: "If an applicant does not think their case was assessed fairly, they can ask to have it reviewed. If they remain unhappy after their review they can ask for an independent appeal from the Tribunals Service."
Updated on 15/12/2009