Victim of Lotto rapist ‘can claim’
Nov 7 2007 by jl reporter1, The Journal
THE woman attacked by lottery- winning rapist Iorworth Hoare looks “almost certain” to have won her legal fight in the House of Lords, her lawyers claimed last night.
The woman, known as Mrs A, should now be able to claim compensation for the attempted rape in Roundhay Park, Leeds, in 1988, her lawyers said.
Damian Crosse, a solicitor at DLA Piper, said: “We are very optimistic that after a long and often very uphill battle, Mrs A’s claim against Iorworth Hoare, who now lives in Darras Hall, Ponteland, Northumberland, will be allowed to continue because the House of Lords will find in favour of her appeal.
“The case before the House of Lords was notable because it dealt with an important matter of law which the Court of Appeal had previously indicated was both incoherent and seriously deficient.”
Two previous courts had interpreted the Limitation Act 1980 to mean that a victim of an assault such as Mrs A was prevented from making a claim because she was outside a six-year time limit. The solicitor said: “On the basis of a successful appeal by Mrs A, victims of intentional assault will be able to pursue the perpetrators at the discretion of the court outside of the normal time limit.
“I have spoken to Mrs A this morning and she is ‘ecstatic’ at what she is so very close to achieving. 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.”
Iorworth Hoare had not been worth suing until he won £7m on the Lotto while on day release from prison in 2004.
He had been serving a life sentence for the attack on Mrs A and six other women he had previously assaulted, but just months after his win he was released on parole.
The Lords have not given their decision in writing yet but have indicated that they plan to allow an extension of the limitation period – enabling Mrs A and others to press for compensation, according to her lawyers.
The Law Lords’ hearing was to hear evidence from five different cases, but after hearing the first issue the Lords said they had heard enough to be able to make their judgment.
Mrs A received just £5,000 from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board after the brutal attack by Iorworth Hoare 19 years ago.
