CICA Case Study - Sept 2025

The Applicant was sexually assaulted by her stepfather between the ages of 13 to 15. 

The assaults were reported to the police in 2002 and in 2018 when the case was referred to the CPS for a charging decision. However, the investigations were discontinued due to insufficient evidence.

As a result of the sexual assaults the applicant suffered from recurrent depressive disorder, mixed anxiety and depressive disorder and an emotionally unstable personality disorder.

The Applicant suffered from symptoms of depression, suicidal ideation, poor sleep, flashbacks, nightmares, self-harm , loss of appetite, low energy and mood.

The mental injuries the applicant suffered meant that she was unable work. The Applicant was employed intermittently between 1995 and 2003. However, the injuries prevented the applicant from being able to hold down a job. The Applicant was unable to work from 2003 onwards.

We applied to the CICA on behalf of the Applicant. Medical evidence was obtained and a schedule of their loss of earnings prepared.

The first offer received from the CICA was £11,000. We advised the Applicant to proceed to a review of the decision. 

At review the CICA increased their offer to £27,000. They now accepted that the Applicant was suffering mental injuries arising from the crime of violence. 

We advised the Applicant to proceed to appeal to recover the loss of earnings which had been claimed. At appeal the award was increased to £150,000.

This was a fantastic result for the Applicant. It is important to note that the fact that the police felt that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute didn’t mean that we were unable to prove that a crime of violence had been suffered and obtain compensation for the applicant.