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Milly Dowler murderer wins £4,500 compensation for prison attack (7 April 2014)

Date: 07/04/2014
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Milly Dowler murderer wins £4,500 compensation for prison attack

The killer of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler has been awarded £4,500 in compensation after he was attacked in prison.

Levi Bellfield, 45, suffered injuries described as minor cuts after another inmate attacked him with an improvised weapon while he was being held at HMP Wakefield in Yorkshire in 2009.

Former nightclub bouncer Bellfield took the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to court for compensation after the attack. He claimed that the MoJ had failed to protect him while he was in prison.

Despite attempts by the MoJ to defend the case, Durham County Court awarded Bellfield compensation after the MoJ admitted full liability for the attack.

Bellfield kidnapped 13-year-old Milly Dowler in 2002 as she walked home from school in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. Her body was found six months’ later in woodland where Bellfield used to walk his dog.

He was given a whole life prison sentence in 2008 after being convicted for murdering 22-year-old Amelie Delagrange and 19-year-old Marsha McDonnell, both of whom he stalked before killing them.

Bellfield also tried to kill a third woman and he managed to escape detection for his crimes as a result of police errors.

He was eventually convicted of Milly Dowler’s murder in 2011.

Labour MP Ian Austin has vowed to raise the compensation awarded to Bellfield with Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, calling the settlement “disgusting”.

Mr Austin said:

”This is a complete and utter disgrace. I will be asking Mr Grayling how this evil child murderer could possibly be awarded such a huge sum of money.

“Every right-thinking person will agree this is distasteful and wrong,” Mr Austin added.

Bellfield claims, however, that prison guards should not have allowed him to be placed on the wing of the prison where the attack took place.

The Mirror reports that Bellfield claimed that by placing him on the wing, “it was just asking for an attack to happen”. Bellfield suffered his injuries after another inmate waited for him outside the prison bathrooms and aimed a weapon at his eye, but missed.

Milly Dowler’s mother Sally Dowler has criticised Bellfield’s compensation award – saying she hoped he would be dealt with in prison with the same “brutality” he perpetrated on the young women he murdered.

Mrs Dowler said:

“The length the system goes to to protect his human rights seems so unfair, compared to what we as a family have had to endure.”

It is reported that Bellfield is to give the compensation to his close relatives to fund a holiday caravan in Kent.

An estimated £13 million in compensation is awarded to prisoners every year.

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers can advise prisoners on their rights in jail, including access to services such as mental health services.

Duncan Lewis can also advise prisoners on appealing convictions, sentencing appeals and applications to the Parole Board.

For legal advice on prisoners’ rights, contact Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 020 7923 4020.


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