Survivor of Child Sex Abuse Gets Closure and Compensation

How Did We Help?

Mr Wright got in touch with our helpful expert team of Abuse Solicitors when he was 50 years old and told us that he had been sexually abused whilst he was in care as a child at Rosehill Childrens Home. We listened to his story and learned about the devastating impact that the abuse had on his life throughout the years.

After assessing the prospects of success in the case, Abuse Claims Solicitor, Tamsin Johns-Chapman, who specialises in historic child abuse cases, took on his case.

After taking a full statement from Mr Wright, Tamsin reviewed his historical records. It was very important that we obtained evidence of Mr Scott’s conviction as the abuse Mr Wright suffered had already been proven by a criminal court.

Tamsin was able to obtain proof of the conviction from the court before sending a letter to Leicestershire City Council (the Defendant) setting out the details of Mr Wright’s claim.

Following this, the Defendant made an offer of compensation in the sum of £15,000 to settle Mr Wright’s claim. Leicestershire City Council didn’t deny the claim as they were fully responsible for Mr Scott’s actions because he was their employee. Additionally, there was no real basis to deny responsibility given that  the abuse had already been proven by a conviction in the criminal courts.

Getting Closure and Looking Forward

Ultimately, Mr Wright decided to accept the offer so that  he could finally draw a line under everything, allowing him to get the that closure he needed to move forward with his life.

More importantly, Leicestershire City Council gave Mr Wright a letter of apology for the abuse that he suffered and the lack of action which was taken at the time to prevent this or stop this abuse. This was an important acknowledgement of what had happened to him which he greatly appreciated and valued more than the compensation itself.

As part of moving forward, Mr Wright and his wife are planning on using the compensation to buy a camper van so that they can travel around the country together.

If you are a survivor of abuse whilst in the care of a Local Authority, and you’re ready to talk about your experiences, contact our expert Child Abuse Solicitors for free legal advice and to see how we can help you. To fund your case, ask us about Legal Aid or see if we can deal with your case on a No Win, No Fee basis.

We understand that access to legal support is crucial for survivors pursuing compensation and funding options like this as it makes sure that financial constraints don’t stop survivors from seeking the justice that they deserve.

Our friendly team can be contacted on 0808 239 1287, or you can request a call back. We’re here to listen and help in any way that we can be providing you with support and advice throughout the process.

We would encourage anyone who has experienced this type of abuse to come forward and discuss the prospects of proceeding with a legal claim as soon as they feel ready and able to. However, we understand that not everyone will be ready to do this and that coming forward to discuss such a traumatic event and difficult time in your life is far from straightforward.

Coming to terms with your abuse and speaking about it can be an extremely difficult and emotionally distressing time but can help you to achieve a sense of closure. If you would like to make a sexual abuse claim for compensation, our specialist Abuse Law Solicitors are here to listen confidentially, with no obligation for you to go forward with a claim.

Our experienced Child Abuse Solicitors will handle every case with sensitivity and understanding. Every person in our team of Child Abuse Solicitors is trained to navigate the complex legal process so that you don’t have to. They’ll make sure that you feel supported throughout the process and will advocate for you as much as possible. Here at Simpson Millar, we’re determined and dedicated to providing you with a safe and understanding environment throughout the legal process.

We also appreciate that abuse doesn’t only impact the survivor but the family and friends of the person who has experienced the abuse. If you want us to, we will do our very best to be there for both you and your support network too.

Given the impact abuse can have, we can also help with any physical health or mental health issues or conditions that you are experiencing. It’s important that you are compensated for the suffering that you experienced as well as taking care of your future. If any treatment was to be recommended in your case, this is something that we could arrange for you if you wished to proceed with the treatment.

Many of the survivors still live with the memories of the abuse but were able to achieve a sense of justice for what happened to them through legal proceedings.

For those Survivors who aren’t Quite Ready to Come Forward

For those survivors who aren’t quite ready to come forward, other steps can be taken to assist with any potential future claim you may wish to proceed with or explore. These steps may include:

• Documenting your experience – put together a detailed account of the abuse you endured, including dates, locations, and individuals involved. This information serves as crucial evidence in building a strong case against the responsible parties.
• Gathering supporting evidence – collect any available records, correspondence, or documentation related to the placement and the subsequent abuse. These materials may be able to contribute to the strength of your case.

We know that no amount compensation can ever make up for the traumatic experiences and suffering you have endured. However, this is something that you may be entitled to receive. The compensation you receive could cover all sorts of expenses, such as the cost of counselling or therapy, or loss of earnings if you’ve suffered a psychological illness because of the abuse which means that you can’t work.

Help and Support

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, our team can be contacted on 0808 239 1287. Alternatively, you can request a call back. We’re here to listen. The following organisations may also be able to provide you with some help and support:

• Support for Survivors – can be contacted on 0115 962 2722 or by email at [email protected]. Further information can be found on their website at supportforsurvivors.org
• The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC) – can be contacted by telephone on 0808 801 0331 or by email at [email protected]. Further resources are available on their website at napac.org.uk
• Samaritans – can be contacted by calling their free helpline on 116 123 or by email at [email protected]. Alternatively, a text service and online chat function is available, further details of which can be found on their website at https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
• SANE Line – can be contacted from 4pm until 10pm on 0300 304 7000 or you can request a call back by leaving a voicemail message on 07984 967 708. Further information about their services can be found at https://www.sane.org.uk/how-we-help/emotional-support/saneline-services
• NHS England Mental Health Helpline – access to this service and further information can be found at https://111.nhs.uk/triage/check-your-mental-health-symptoms