Switalskis has recently reached a £30,000 out-of-court settlement for a client who was sexually abused by a Scout leader in 2013.

Our client was just 11 years old when she attended an activity weekend at a Scout camp in Hertfordshire, where she was sexually assaulted by one of the Scout activity leaders.

The girl was brave enough to ask him to stop but was powerless to prevent the attack. Afterwards, she asked to speak to one of her parents but was told that she was just homesick and wasn’t allowed to make the call.

When she was collected from the camp the next day, the girl told her mother that something had happened. The police were informed, but she was scared and didn’t feel able to disclose the full extent of the abuse. The police were unable to take any further action.  

As time went by, our client experienced anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of what happened. She was worried that the Scout leader would find her when she was on holiday. She found relationships with her family and friends more difficult and would argue with her parents. She began to wear more layers of clothes to protect herself. She had panic attacks in crowded places and had started sleepwalking. She was anxious that she hadn’t told the police or her parents the full extent of what had actually happened

The same Scout leader was arrested several years later for similar offences, and the police contacted our client again to ask her what had happened. This time, she did feel able to disclose the seriousness of the assault. He was convicted at trial and sentenced to 30 months in prison for assaults on our client and other children.

Switalskis was instructed after the conviction, and we sent a letter to the Scout Association setting out details of the claim. At the same time, we started the process of obtaining relevant information, such as documents held by the police and court, including statements, the indictment, and the certificate of conviction.

The law in this area is complex, so having a specialist solicitor is essential. Organisations like the Scouts have a legal team representing them, and they will, where possible, try to argue they’re not responsible for compensating victims of abuse.

A really important part of a claim like this is to establish the precise circumstances of what happened. Gathering as much evidence as possible and asking the right questions means that we are able to present the best and strongest case possible.

The hard work at the start paid off, and our client received an early offer of compensation, which, after negotiation, was increased to £30,000. We were able to settle the claim from start to finish in less than a year.

We’re pleased to hear that our client will be able to put the money received to good use. She has already started planning to put it towards her further education. She was very grateful to have the claim concluded and felt that she had made the right choice in choosing to have Switalskis to represent her.

Find out how Switalskis can help you

We're committed to providing expert, caring legal advice for child abuse claims, including the most serious historical abuse compensation and child 
sexual abuse cases. If you're ready to take the next step, we're here for a no-obligation chat.

Feel free to get in touch with us by calling 0800 138 0458  or by contacting us through the website.