Abbie (whose name has been changed) survived a horrific ordeal as a teenager when she was at high school in Yorkshire. She approached Winston Solicitors for help with a CICA (Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority) claim.
What is the CICA?
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme (CICA) is a government agency within the Ministry of Justice that provides compensation to victims of violent crime. The CICA sets out the framework for victims of crime to be able to apply for compensation.
Abbie’s Case
In Abbie’s case she was abducted and suffered a sexual assault. Abbie was walking home from school and started to feel scared when a car was following her. There were two men in the car and one kept talking to her, leaning out of the window. She tried to walk faster and looked around for help, but it was a quiet street and there was no one else around.
The car stopped and the man who had been talking to her jumped out, grabbed her, and forced her into the car. The men took her to a house nearby and one of them sexually assaulted her. Abbie spent hours in the house and escaped through an open window when her attackers fell asleep.
In the days after the attack Abbie was too scared to leave home on her own and had to have her parents with her all the time. She was supported by her doctor and a police ISVA (Independent Sexual Violence Advisor).
More information on ISVAs, their role and how they can help you can be found via Rape Crisis on their website
Abbie’s ISVA suggested she consider making a criminal injuries claim and she and her parents discussed this.
Making a CICA Claim
Abbie contacted Winston Solicitors herself when she was 18. The lawyers helped her gather the evidence for her claim and submit her application to the CICA. Preparing your case is important, as getting the right information from the start can make a claim go through faster.
Abbie’s case had taken a long time for the police to investigate and to get to court. The police and the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) spent some time reviewing the charges. Unfortunately, the case resulted in a not guilty verdict at trial as the jury were not satisfied beyond all reasonable doubt.
To find out more about making criminal injury claims see our guide here
What did Winston Solicitors do?
Winston Solicitors worked with Abbie and were still able to make a CICA claim for her, despite the not guilty verdict. The CICA were instructed to deal with the case on the basis of the police evidence and it was agreed that it was more likely than not that a crime of violence had taken place. The lawyer dealing with Abbie’s case gave advice about the most appropriate award of compensation under the tariffs in the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and helped achieve the best possible award in the shortest time possible for her.
Outcome
Abbie received an award of £11,000 in compensation from the CICA and was very happy to be able to use the funds for some private counselling and to set aside for going to university.
Many people are unaware that it is still possible to make a claim for compensation under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, even when there is a not guilty verdict at court. We often hear clients say they thought they had to wait until after court, or that they thought there had to be a guilty verdict; neither of these is the case.
If you have suffered a sexual assault do not delay in making a criminal injury claim. You can call one of our specialists today on 0113 320 5000 or email @email
