Farleys Secures £199,000 Compensation from CICA for Victim of Historic Sexual Abuse

Born in 1996, Client K was a particularly vulnerable individual during his adolescence. He experienced gender identity issues, body dysmorphia and identifies as gay. This was frowned upon within his community and as a result he was vulnerable and easy to exploit. Between the ages of 13 and 22, Client K suffered serious sexual abuse at the hands of a group of men in his community. He was under threat that his parents would be told about his sexuality if he refused the men’s advances.

The abuse has had a profound and lasting impact on Client K’s life. He initially found it difficult to come to terms with what had happened and was overwhelmed by the shame his community had placed on him for his sexuality. He has since been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, anxiety and depression. His mental health difficulties have also led to suicidal ideation and self-harm and have affected his ability to maintain employment.

He only recently felt strong enough to report the abuse to the police in November 2025 and it began being investigated. Client K also approached Farleys in the same month, seeking support for a CICA claim.

How Farleys Helped and the Outcome

Farleys began drafting an application and witness statement, working with Client K to address all points and submitted this shortly afterwards. Farleys then, through helpful communication with Client K, identified authorities that could contain useful evidence for his claim, and began applying for their records. Client K’s input throughout this period was invaluable, as he volunteered supporting documents, GP and psychiatric letters, sick notes, and more.

Once the records were received by Farleys, the review team set to work and prepared detailed reviews of Client K’s hospital records, mental health records, DWP records, GP records, and sexual health clinic records. The GP records were forwarded to the CICA as supporting evidence in March 2026.

Farleys decided to wait for correspondence from the CICA before sending the remaining reviews. However, on 15 June 2026 the CICA sent a decision letter offering Client K a substantial award of £199,329.99. This accounted for the sexual and physical abuse he suffered as a child, a portion of his past loss of earnings, and a full future loss of earnings.

The speed of Client K’s case was exceptional, with the offer made only seven months after the claim was submitted. This was a significantly quicker outcome than the vast majority of Farleys’ high-value cases and provides reassurance to clients who may be concerned that pursuing a complex CICA claim will inevitably involve a lengthy process. The case was also unusual because it settled purely on the available evidence, without the CICA requiring the involvement or opinion of independent experts. Client K was delighted with both the timeframe and the level of compensation offered and decided to accept the award.

Client K’s comments

Working with Jonathan Bridge and his team was an exceptional experience. As a specialist in CICA cases, they demonstrated outstanding professionalism throughout my CICA claim. I am so grateful for their guidance and substantial award they helped me achieve. Jonathan is truly an amazing solicitor very knowledgeable and professional cannot thank Jonathan and his team enough from the bottom of my heart Thank you! if you’re considering a CICA claim reach out to Farleys Solicitors they will be by your side every step of the way.

At Farleys Solicitors, we have a team of specialist lawyers with extensive experience of managing abuse claims with the criminal injuries compensation authority, including challenging decisions by the CICA. To discuss your case in confidence, please call our dedicated abuse claims line on 0343 253 9049. Alternatively, you can contact us by email or through the online chat below.