October 8th, 2009
A girl who was almost killed in a frenzied knife attack has been awarded over £18,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
Jessica Knight, 16, had been walking through a park in Chorley when she was attacked by Kristofer Beddar, who had drunk half a bottle of whisky.
She was stabbed 25 times and her injuries were so severe that she suffered a stroke and was in a coma for over a week.
Her mother Jill Walmsley said her life has been badly affected by the attack and that she often suffers double vision.
"We don’t know what the future holds yet – whether she’ll be able to work full-time or even drive," she added.
Jessica pursued a claim through the CICA, which has now agreed to the £18,895 payout.
The CICA is part of the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for administering the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in England, Scotland and Wales.
It can pay out a maximum of £250,000 to the victims of a criminal attack.
Tags: Chorley, Cica, Coma, Criminal Injuries Compensation, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, Double Vision, England Scotland, Full Time, Knife Attack, Lancashire, Ministry Of Justice, Stroke, Wales, Walmsley, Whisky
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June 15th, 2009
A woman who was hit over the head with a bottle has won compensation for her injuries.
Hayley Foster has been awarded £1,500 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA).
The Manchester Evening News reports how, in 2007, she was in the Fir Tree pub in Reddish with her boyfriend on Christmas Eve when a fight broke out.
Ms Foster was not involved but was struck with a bottle.
She was twice refused by CICA as police had said she was uncooperative and injured as an accident, which she denies.
Ms Foster told the newspaper: "He meant to hit someone. Unfortunately, it was an innocent bystander.
Greater Manchester Police said that Ms Foster had not been able to explain to officers how she was injured and that no victims or witnesses had reported a crime.
Ms Foster told the paper she had been in "a state of shock" when police arrived and was primarily concerned with getting to hospital, adding that the attack on her had been "no accident".
CICA is a government organisation that can give awards from £1,000 to £1,500 to innocent victims of violent crime.
Tags: Christmas, Christmas Eve, Cica, Criminal Injuries Compensation, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, Fir Tree, Government Organisation, Greater Manchester Police, Innocent Bystander, Innocent Victims, Manchester Evening News, News Reports, State Of Shock, Tree Pub, Violent Crime, Woman
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April 14th, 2009
A police officer who was badly injured when his car was rammed by an escaping thief has won the right to claim compensation.
PC Mark Tait was a passenger in a squad car that was chasing a stolen Volvo in March 2003 when it was crashed into at a junction in Wigan.
Although Mr Tait’s claim was originally denied by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which claimed that the driver being pursued was only trying to escape, he appealed and a judge has now ruled that the stolen car had been used as a weapon with a possible intention to cause harm.
Mr Justice Stadlen has ordered a new tribunal in which it will be decided how much compensation Mr Tait is to receive, although it is thought the sum will be ’substantial’.
CICA is part of the Ministry of Justice and is responsible for administering the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in England, Scotland and Wales.
Tags: Chase, Cica, Criminal Injuries Compensation, Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, England Scotland, Intention, Ministry Of Justice, Mr Justice, Police Officer, Policeman, Squad Car, Stolen Car, Tait, Thief, Tribunal, Volvo, Wales, Wigan, Wins
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February 10th, 2009
A firefighter who was attacked by a gang of youths as he attempted to put out a house fire has received a compensation payout for the injury he received.
Peter Woodhead, 41, was one of five men who attended the blaze in Stockton last May.
However, as the team tackled the fire, their equipment was stolen by a nearby gang. When the firefighters tried to retrieve it, they were surrounded and set upon by the gang, some of whom had wooden fence posts.
Mr Woodhead suffered a broken elbow. He contacted the Fire Brigades’ Union (FBU) in order to seek compensation through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Association (CICA).
In a new development, he has now secured an undisclosed sum from the organisation.
Anyone pursuing a similar claim through the CICA should be aware that there is a two year deadline for making it, instead of the usual three year deadline for standard personal injury compensation claims.
Tags: Blaze, Broken Elbow, Cica, Compensation Association, Criminal Injuries Compensation, Fbu, Fire Brigades Union, Firefighter, Firefighters, Five Men, Mr Woodhead, Personal Injury Compensation, Personal Injury Compensation Claims, Undisclosed Sum, Wooden Fence Posts
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