WHY ON EARTH ARE WE COMPENSATING CONVICTED MURDERERS AND IGNORING THE REAL VICTIMS?

A TALE of our times. An 81-year-old great-grandmother was attacked in her home by a sadistic animal called Leroy Campbell. He punched her senseless, wrapped a cord round her neck and left her for dead. Then he raped and murdered her daughter before setting the house on fire. He was on probation at the time. The National Probation Service has admitted he should never have been at liberty. But the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority thought differently when it came to compensating the victim. Let me quote: “The widespread bruising to your head, black eyes, bloody nose, bloodshot left eye, swelling over your cheek, tenderness around your jaw, and bruising and cuts to your neck, are not listed in Annex E. We are therefore unable to make an award for these injuries as they are not qualifying injuries.”

I have no doubt that the slimy jobsworth who wrote those lines then went home mightily pleased with himself. I fear I must admit that though normally a peaceable fellow I used to have quite a useful right fist and if I ever met this paper-pusher I would be sore tempted to use it. However, all is not lost. In another jail the serial killer Levi Bellfield, serving life without parole, got into a scrap in the prison yard. He sustained what is known as a fat lip. And the CICA has thoughtfully awarded him £6,000 compensation. There is something very weird happening in our country.