Bank to compensate robbed women

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/8470896.stm

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An 84-year-old woman who was robbed of thousands of pounds shortly after leaving a branch of Halifax will be refunded by the bank.

Violet Burnejko, of Hinksey, and her daughter Pauline Driver, 60, were targeted in Oxford's Westgate Centre. They claimed they should be awarded compensation as the £4,600 was counted out in view of passers-by outside.

A Halifax spokesman said the bank had not admitted liability and the refund was "a gesture of goodwill".

'Overjoyed at refund'

Samantha Holmes, Ms Burnejko's granddaughter, said the money was from a Christmas savings account.

"It's great news," she added.

"We are overjoyed the Halifax have changed their minds and have decided to refund this money to my nan's account."

The bank initially declined to pay back the money after the incident in December 2009, but has now agreed to pay the full amount.

A spokesman said: "We have refunded the money as a gesture of goodwill and in light of Ms Burnejko's longstanding relationship with the bank."

He added that the bank is taking steps to improve the privacy arrangements of the interview rooms at the branch, although it has not been confirmed by police that the offenders saw the women in the bank.

Thames Valley Police have confirmed that no arrests have yet been made.