Lotto rapist faces sharing £7m jackpot with victim, 78, who wins landmark compensation ruling

Last updated at 00:58am on 30th January 2008

 

Compensation: Lotto rapist Iorworth Hoare faces paying thousands in compensation to his rape victim

The victim of a rapist who won the lottery is today expected to win a legal victory that may force him to share his £7million jackpot with her.

 

The ruling in favour of the woman, known only as Mrs A, opens the door for thousands of others to seek damages from those who assaulted them.

 

Legal sources said a decision by the Law Lords, due to be delivered today, will grant judges discretionary powers to allow victims to sue their attackers outside the ordinary six-year time limit.

 

It means serial rapist Iorworth Hoare, who attacked Mrs A in 1988, could be forced to pay her substantial damages.

 

A separate claim will have to be made and it is not yet clear how much he will have to hand over.

 

Damian Crosse, who represented the 78-year-old retired teacher on a no win, no fee basis, said: "She has always wanted to pursue justice for herself and others and she is relieved as well as very pleased that her efforts will almost certainly prove to be successful."

 

He added: "From a legal perspective this is an incredibly important landmark case. This will enable people who have been the victims of deliberate assaults to pursue their perpetrators for claims long after the six year period."

 

It was 19 years ago that Hoare, now 58, subjected Mrs A to a "violent and disgusting" attack.

 

Her defiant testimony in court secured his incarceration for attempted rape and led the sentencing judge to declare that for "every second" he was at liberty a woman was at risk.

 

Hoare had previously been sentenced to a total of 18 years between 1973 and 1987 for sex crimes including one rape, two attempted rapes and three indecent assaults.

 

In August 2004, after serving 16 years for the attempted rape and while on weekend leave from an open prison, he shared a £21million jackpot with two other winners. While he planned a life of luxury his victim, who was awarded just £5,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, continued to suffer from nightmares.

 

When Hoare was released on parole in March 2005 he moved straight into a £700,000 mansion on the outskirts of Newcastle.

 

Mr Crosse said his client was encouraged by family and friends to launch a legal fight to change the law just months after Hoare's Lotto Extra win.

 

He said although the Lords must give their decision in writing they have indicated they plan to allow an extension of the limitation period to enable Mrs A and others to press for compensation.

 

Mrs A had previously lost legal battles in the High Court and the Court of Appeal to force Hoare to dip into his fortune and was even ordered to pay his £100,000 legal fees.

It is estimated as many as 6,000 child sex abuse cases could be affected by the ruling.

 

Mr Crosse said: "We want to see a change in the law to ensure Mrs A is fairly compensated for the damage and suffering she has had to endure as a result of being attacked by Mr Hoare.

"My client and others like her should be able to gain justice through the civil courts and there is clearly an anomaly in the law as it stands that is preventing them from doing so."

 

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