Family of one-punch attack victim fear £500k compensation could run out

Craig Lewis-Williams, a 50-year-old from Llay, Wrexham, now requires daily care and is fed through a tube after a single punch in November 2021 left him paralyzed and with brain damage. The incident caused him to fall backward and hit his head, resulting in lifelong disabilities. His wife, Anna, expressed concerns that the £500,000 compensation he received—set in 1996—falls far short of covering his needs today.

The current maximum payout from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) has not been adjusted for inflation since its establishment in April 1996. Campaigners argue that if it had kept pace with rising costs, the amount would now exceed £1,015,000. This discrepancy has sparked calls for a review, as families like Craig’s face mounting financial pressures.

“Things are going to need replacing like his wheelchair and the van, they’re big things to pay out for which are not what the layman needs,” said Anna. “You can’t go out and buy a car for £500, or £1,000, whereas we’ve got to get everything adapted. It’s not going to last. He’s just turned 50 and the expected life age of a male is 75 to 80, it’s another 25 to 30 years.”

Craig’s attacker, Adam Chamberlin, admitted causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to a year and four months in December 2022. Before the assault, Craig worked as a warehouse manager, but his injuries have left him unable to walk, swallow, or work. A stroke during his treatment added further complications, resulting in paralysis on his left side.

Lawyers and advocates highlight that the £500,000 cap, intended to support victims of crime, fails to account for today’s expenses. Neil Sugarman, a personal injury specialist and former president of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (Apil), urged the government to act. “The 30th anniversary of the introduction of the maximum award of £500,000 for the most seriously injured innocent victims of crime should serve as a wake-up call,” he stated. “Managing with this amount for life is an insult to those who have suffered catastrophic injuries.”

“While having a cap on compensation for survivors of crime is not perfect, at the very least it should be recognised that the amount established when the cap was set in 1996 will not go as far in today’s money, three decades on,” added Kim Harrison, a former Apil president.

Nichola, from north-west England, shares similar worries about her adopted daughter Lou. The teenager, who has learning difficulties due to brain damage from prenatal drug exposure, struggles with mental processing, mood disorders, and behavioral challenges. Though she attends a mainstream school, Nichola fears Lou’s future is uncertain. “The assessments are that she will struggle with maintaining a job, long-term, probably with the disciplines and interpersonal relationships involved,” she noted.