Trowbridge Kickboxer Jailed for Sexual Assault

Trowbridge kickboxing instructor Dave Prosser, was recently jailed on 51 charges of child abuse including rape, attempted rape and sexual assault. He carried out kickboxing classes across West London, including Northolt Swimarama, Shadwell Drive Community Centre and Dormer Wells School.

So far a number of individuals have come forward and the police believe there may be more.

Victims of Dave Prosser may be able to claim compensation against him personally. Normally claims for sexual assault must be brought by a person’s 21^st birthday, but the House of Lords has said, in the case of A v Hoare [2008] UKHL 6 that a person might be able to bring a late claim against their abuser in certain circumstances, for instance where there was a criminal conviction.

It is often thought that paedophiles are people without money, but this is not the case. Mr Prosser might well own property or he might have insurance that actually covered his activities. In the case of KR and Others versus Royal & Sun Alliance PLC [2006]EWCA Civ 1454 the Court of Appeal ordered an insurance company to pay compensation to victims of abuse, who had been in a care home owned by a liquidated company.

It is possible that Mr Prosser was employed by a club or a local authority, in which case they might be liable if they knew or should have known about his activities. In some circumstances, a local authority can be vicariously liable for sexual abuse committed by a care worker in a home for children. That is what was decided by the House of Lords in Lister and Others v Hesley Hall Ltd. [2001] UKHL 22.

Finally Mr Prosser’s victims may well have a claim to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, a government body set up to award compensation to victims of crime.

The best advice for any victim of childhood sexual abuse, who wants to find out about making a compensation claim, is that they should consult a solicitor who specialises in this difficult area, as soon as possible.

If you have been a victim of abuse at the hands of Dave Prosser and wish to speak with us regarding a possible claim for child abuse compensation, please contact us on 020 8399 5272 or alternatively fill in our online contact form to the right.