24hr Helpline:01132247804
Cohen Cramer Solicitors

Historic Sex Abuse

Historic sex abuse is the term used to describe sexual assault/abuse or rape of, in most cases, a child that occurred sometime in the past and that has not, until recently, been reported or investigated.

Claim for the victims of historic sexual abuse

Claim for the victims of historic sexual abuse

The recent cases involving celebrities and public figures are examples of historic abuse where the victims, for whatever reason, did not come forward for many years.

The reason for the delay may have been out of fear that they would not be believed or that it was somehow their fault together, or perhaps feelings of guilt or shame.

The police are more aware than ever of the reality of historic abuse and are now prosecuting incidents of assault dating back 30-40 years. There is no time limit for prosecutions of such crimes.

If you have been the victim of historic abuse there may be a number of possible ways to bring a claim:

  1. If you were abused while attending an institution such as a school, church, scouts etc. and the abuse was carried out by a person in authority there, then you may be able to claim from the organisation itself.
  2. If the person who assaulted you has the means to pay, then you may well be able to bring a claim against them personally.
  3. You may also be able to pursue a claim through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority as a victim of a violent crime.

In scenarios in 1 and 2 above you have, in theory, three years from either the date of the assault or your 18th birthday, whichever is the later to bring a claim. However any claim to the CICA has to be made within 2 years of the offence.

It is important to note however, that the Courts and the CICA have discretion to overlook delays in bringing claims in appropriate circumstances. This can be quite complex and we would advise you take legal advice as soon as possible.

If you have been the victim of historic abuse and want to know where you stand regarding claiming compensation then get in touch with us today:

  • Call Mike Massen on 0113 224 7804. We will listen in complete confidence and give you the best advice regarding the strength of your claim and how much you may be entitled to. We will answer all your questions so that you can decide if you want to proceed with your application to the CICA. If you do; we are here for you and can help.
  • Email your contact details with as much information as you want to give us, and we will call or email you; just let us know what works best for you. Email us at info@cica-criminal-injury.co.uk
  • Pop your details in the contact box at the bottom of this page and we will get back to you for a free, confidential chat to see how we can help you.

Your claim can be dealt with on a No Win-No Fee basis so you don’t have to worry about the cost of bringing a claim.


We’re here to help

Or Submit your details and we’ll contact you