Legal News

A prison guard inured in an attack by a convicted killer in jail has criticised a compensation award of £815 made to him after the Prison Service lost and damaged some of his personal possessions during a move between jails.

Craig Wylde sustained a severed artery and nerve damage after he was attacked in prison by Kevan Thakrar.

Thakrar, 26, from Stevenage in Hertfordshire sued after his nose and hair trimmer was broken during the move – and a carton of fruit juice, a packet of protein powder, toiletries and photos and personal letters were lost.

He had been jailed with his brother Miran for the gangland execution of three men in 2007 and the attempted murder of two others. Thakrar is serving three life sentences with a minimum term of 35 years.

The three men who died – Keith Cowell, 52, his son Matthew, 17, and Tony Dulieu, 33 – were killed at Cowell’s house as the result of a row over the poor quality of cocaine supplied to small-time drug dealer Miran Thakrar in previous deals.

Kevan Thakrar took part in the executions and in HMP Frankland in County Durham, he went on to injure three prison guards and was transferred to HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes as a result.

The £815 award for the loss of his possessions and damage to his nose and hair trimmer has prompted a backlash. However, £500 of the compensation settlement was because prison guards refused to apologise to Thakrar over the loss and damage to his personal possessions during the move.

Thakrar claimed that he had suffered “stress” as a result of the loss of his “priceless possessions”.

Injured prison guard Craig Wylde said:

“This is another case of the prisoner getting everything and the real victims getting nothing. He is always trying it on – this is the sort of person he is,” Mr Wylde said.

“He has to complain about everything and thinks he's a big man because he's challenging the system.

“This latest claim will have cost thousands and thousands of taxpayers' money. It is just totally pathetic," he added.

In court, the judge awarding compensation to Thakrar criticised the fact that the £10 compensation awarded by the Prison Ombudsman had not been paid after 13 months. District Judge Neil Hickman also criticised the prison guards who failed to apologise to Thakrar.

“Had the defendants said promptly and sincerely to Mr Thakrar that they deeply regretted the loss of his personal items and understood his distress, the loss of them would not have been aggravated in the way that it has been, said Judge Hickman.

"So far from doing that, the ministry has steadfastly failed even to tender the grudging and belated apology which was recommended by the Ombudsman.”

Commenting on the case, the Prison Service said:
"We robustly defend all cases as far as the evidence allows."

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Lawyers – Criminal Injury Compensation Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury lawyers and can advise on how to make no win no fee compensation claims for criminal injuries sustained as a result of the criminal activity of another party – including claims by Police Officers Injured at Work and Prison Service personnel injured in the course of their duties.

Compensation claims for injuries sustained in unprovoked assaults and attacks can be made under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority or through the civil court.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee compensation claims for criminal injuries, contact Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors on 020 7923 4020.