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£20,000 payout and apology, after police fail to believe rape victim’s story (22 May 2015)

Date: 22/05/2015
Duncan Lewis, Personal Injury Solicitors, £20,000 payout and apology, after police fail to believe rape victim’s story

Police in Hampshire are to pay a rape victim £20,000, after failing to investigate her complaint properly.

BBC News reports that the woman was 17 at the time of the rape in 2012 – and tried to kill herself after she was told she could face charges for lying about the rape. The woman was arrested by Hampshire Constabulary on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, after reporting the rape to police in Winchester.

It is reported that the woman – named only as Laura – believed there was forensic evidence on a T-shirt she was wearing when she was raped at a friend’s house after a night out. Her attacker was part of the group at the house that night.

However, police did not carry out a full test and failed to find any evidence, Laura’s mother – known only as Jackie – said.

Laura’s rapist was later convicted and jailed for five years in 2013, however.

Jackie told BBC News:

“I was horrified. A woman comes forward and tells the police authority she has been raped – you expect them to do everything they can to put the rapist away.”

Jackie added that she feels police did not believe her daughter because she had been in trouble with the police in the past and also has mental health problems.

The rapist was charged after detectives visited Laura four months after the rape to tell her they believed her. The Crown Prosecution Service then ordered tests to be carried out on the T-shirt.

Hampshire Constabulary has apologised to Laura and agreed to settle out-of-court. A number of officers involved in the case have also been investigated –
one received a written warning and three others were allowed to resign or retire during the internal investigation.

Chief Superintendent David Powell from Hampshire Constabulary admitted that initial handling of the case had been poor:

“We have already personally apologised to the victim and her mother – and I repeat here now that we are sorry for how we let her down,” he told BBC News.

“The initial officers involved did not treat this victim in a way that she or any other victim would deserve to be treated. We deeply regret this.
He added that he wanted to reassure all victims of sexual assault that they would be taken seriously.

“We do believe you – we appreciate how hard it is to come forward to report these offences...

“We are doing everything to ensure we never have an initial response like this again.”

Duncan Lewis Personal Injury Solicitors – No win no fee Sexual and Physical Abuse Claims

Duncan Lewis is a leading firm of personal injury solicitors able to advise on no win no fee compensation claims for sexual abuse, physical abuse and cases of historic sexual or physical abuse.

Claims for sexual and/or physical abuse can usually be made once a conviction has been obtained – in cases of historic abuse, Duncan Lewis can advise further on making a claim against a perpetrator.

No win no fee sexual and physical abuse claims can be made from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and/or in a private action in the civil courts.

Duncan Lewis can also advise on making a no win no fee claim against social services, schools, the police or other agencies if a report of rape, sexual abuse or physical abuse has not been investigated fully.

For expert legal advice on no win no fee Sexual and Physical Abuse Claims, call Duncan Lewis personal injury solicitors in confidence on 020 7923 4020.


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