This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-65090793
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Rotherham grooming survivor awarded £425k after suing rapist | Rotherham grooming survivor awarded £425k after suing rapist |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| It is hoped the case will encourage other survivors to take action | It is hoped the case will encourage other survivors to take action |
| A rapist convicted as part of the Rotherham grooming scandal has been ordered to pay £425,000 in damages to his victim by the High Court. | |
| The grooming survivor, who is known as Liz, started civil proceedings against Asghar Bostan in 2020. | |
| Bostan was jailed for nine years in 2018 following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. | Bostan was jailed for nine years in 2018 following a trial at Sheffield Crown Court. |
| Liz said she was "proud" to have brought the case and hoped it would show survivors could get justice. | Liz said she was "proud" to have brought the case and hoped it would show survivors could get justice. |
| She said she was approached to take the action as a test case. | She said she was approached to take the action as a test case. |
| "I decided to go with it, not having my hopes up, but we managed to get a result," she said. | "I decided to go with it, not having my hopes up, but we managed to get a result," she said. |
| Her solicitor Robin Tilbrook described it as an "ice-breaker" of a case, which would allow "others to follow". | Her solicitor Robin Tilbrook described it as an "ice-breaker" of a case, which would allow "others to follow". |
| Asghar Bostan was jailed for raping Liz in 2018 | Asghar Bostan was jailed for raping Liz in 2018 |
| During Bostan's trial in 2018, Liz recounted being raped twice by him at a flat in Rotherham after being given alcohol and drugs. | During Bostan's trial in 2018, Liz recounted being raped twice by him at a flat in Rotherham after being given alcohol and drugs. |
| His prosecution followed the National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood inquiry into historical sexual abuse in Rotherham. | His prosecution followed the National Crime Agency's Operation Stovewood inquiry into historical sexual abuse in Rotherham. |
| Liz said despite his conviction she did not believe the judicial process worked for abuse survivors. | Liz said despite his conviction she did not believe the judicial process worked for abuse survivors. |
| "We've been walking around for years and years full of trauma and psychological damage," she said. | "We've been walking around for years and years full of trauma and psychological damage," she said. |
| She said they had faced a constant battle, but hoped her legal action would show that survivors could come forward and get justice. | She said they had faced a constant battle, but hoped her legal action would show that survivors could come forward and get justice. |
| "I wanted to give something back not only to myself, but to other survivors and do something not only for Rotherham but for all the UK," she said. | "I wanted to give something back not only to myself, but to other survivors and do something not only for Rotherham but for all the UK," she said. |
| Referring to the damages of £425,934.09 she was awarded, she said it had not "sunk in" yet. | Referring to the damages of £425,934.09 she was awarded, she said it had not "sunk in" yet. |
| 'Never heal the past' | 'Never heal the past' |
| "I am really, really pleased for the outcome and really, really pleased this might open the floodgates for other survivors. | "I am really, really pleased for the outcome and really, really pleased this might open the floodgates for other survivors. |
| "It will never heal the past, we will always walk in these shoes, but it is about closing a chapter." | "It will never heal the past, we will always walk in these shoes, but it is about closing a chapter." |
| Mr Tilbrook said the key question for bringing action was that the defendant had been convicted, in this case of two counts of rape. | Mr Tilbrook said the key question for bringing action was that the defendant had been convicted, in this case of two counts of rape. |
| "The damage is endured for the life of the victim therefore the amount of damages are always likely to be very large." | "The damage is endured for the life of the victim therefore the amount of damages are always likely to be very large." |
| He said his client had been "very brave" and was a "great example to all the other victims". | He said his client had been "very brave" and was a "great example to all the other victims". |
| Liz said: "I am proud this is what I have done and this could help so many people." | Liz said: "I am proud this is what I have done and this could help so many people." |
| Bostan was released from prison in 2022, and the Probation Service said sex offenders faced some of the "strictest licence conditions", adding: "If an offender breaches their conditions we will not hesitate to return them to prison to protect the public." | Bostan was released from prison in 2022, and the Probation Service said sex offenders faced some of the "strictest licence conditions", adding: "If an offender breaches their conditions we will not hesitate to return them to prison to protect the public." |
| Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Rotherham child abuse scandal | Rotherham child abuse scandal |
| Rotherham | Rotherham |
Previous version
1
Next version