Abuse Survivors Blog

I recently heard the first hand account of a woman who shared her experience of restorative justice in the context of a very serious sexual offence committed against her. 

She spoke of having been victim to the most heinous of sexual crimes, yet after a period of years of counselling developed a desire to meet her perpetrator.  She wanted not only to try and understand him, but also to explain the impact his actions had had on her and her family.  For her own freedom she also wanted to offer him her forgiveness. 

Three men who subjected a victim that we represent to sexual offences have been jailed for a total of 32 years.

Our client, who was a vulnerable child in care when the abuse started, was groomed by the group of men and found herself the victim of childhood sexual abuse. She was given alcohol and drugs by the group of men and made to be drug dependent, which was then used to sexually exploit her.

A dramatic ruling in the House of Lords last week means a Luton lawyer can now fight for compensation for two women who were abused as young girls. Law lords decided courts should be able to use their own discretion to extend a six-year time limit on making a claim.

Hertfordshire women win a landmark victory in Britain's highest court, opening the way for thousands of other victims of sexual assault to claim compensation.