In this guide, we will explain when you may be eligible to bring forward a criminal injury claim after reporting sexual abuse years later. Crimes of violence can cause physical injuries and psychological harm, such as anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Throughout this guide, we will explain the various ways in which a criminal injury claim can be brought forward, what evidence you could use to support a sexual abuse claim and how the use of a No Win No Fee solicitor could benefit you.
Can I Claim For Sexual Abuse After Reporting It Years Later?
When claiming compensation following a violent crime, there are three potential avenues:
- First, if you know the identity of your perpetrator and they have the available funds to pay you compensation, you could claim against them directly.
- Second, if a third-party owed you a duty of care, which they breached, making them vicariously liable for your abuse, you could make a claim against them directly.
- Finally, if neither of the previous options is possible for your case, you may be eligible to make a claim via the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which administrates the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. This aims to compensate victims of crimes of violence.
Contact our team of advisors to discuss your criminal injury claim today. You can receive free and confidential advice with no obligation to further your claim with our panel of solicitors. What’s more, you can get in touch at a time that best suits you, as our team are available 24/7.
You can:
- Call us on the provided number
- Contact us through our online form
- Write to an advisor using the live chat feature on this page
Choose A Section
- Am I Able To Claim After Reporting Sexual Abuse Years Later?
- When Am I Eligible To Make Claims Through The CICA?
- What Compensation Could I Receive For A Sexual Abuse Claim?
- What Evidence Could Help Me Claim After Reporting Sexual Abuse Years Later?
- Use Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Sexual Abuse Claims Solicitors To Claim
- Learn More About How To Make Sexual Abuse Claims
Am I Able To Claim After Reporting Sexual Abuse Years Later?
You could be eligible to claim compensation for sexual abuse even if it was not reported until years later. Non-recent or historical abuse is the term for a now adult having suffered sexual abuse as a child.
When making a claim via the CICA, there are exceptions to the general time limits. They state that the time limit to start a claim can be extended in the following situation:
- Where exceptional circumstances prevented an application from being made earlier; and
- The evidence provided alongside the application means extensive enquiries will not be necessary to determine the outcome.
For more information about making a claim directly against the perpetrator or a vicariously liable party in cases of historical abuse, speak to one of our advisors. Please continue reading if you would like to find out whether you could be eligible to make a compensation claim.
When Am I Eligible To Make Claims Through The CICA?
There are eligibility requirements that must be met to make a criminal injury claim via the CICA. These are as follows:
- The incident must have happened in England, Wales, Scotland or another relevant place as per the CICA’s definition.
- You must have been injured as a direct result of a crime of violence.
- You must meet the residency requirements.
- You must adhere to the time limits outlined in the Scheme.
- The violent crime must have been reported to the police. The CICA expects this to be done as soon as reasonably practicable unless exceptional circumstances caused a delay, such as a case of historical abuse. In this case, you may still be eligible to bring forward a claim.
How you have cooperated with the police in their investigation and your conduct can also be considered when you apply to the CICA to make a claim. Please remember that if you make a claim directly against your perpetrator or a vicariously liable party, for example, for school sexual abuse, the eligibility criteria may differ.
Speak to one of our advisors for a free assessment of your criminal injury claim after reporting sexual abuse years later. They can offer insight into eligibility, and should they find that you may have valid grounds to make a claim, they could put you in contact with one of the sexual abuse claims solicitors on our panel.
What Compensation Could I Receive For A Sexual Abuse Claim?
A successful criminal injury claim made through the CICA after reporting sexual abuse years later will be valued in line with the Scheme’s tariff of injuries. Using the tariff, we have created the table below. You can also use a compensation calculator to get an estimate of the settlement you could be eligible to receive.
| Sexual Offence (the person is under 18 at the time of the offence) | Notes | Compensation Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Penile penetration, with no consent, of one or more of the mouth, vagina, or anus | The offence will cause the person a severe permanent disabling mental illness, which is confirmed by a psychiatric prognosis and serious physical injuries within the body. | £44,000 |
| Penile penetration, with no consent, of one or more of the mouth, vagina, or anus | The offence will cause the person a moderate permanent disabling mental illness, which is confirmed by a psychiatric prognosis and serious physical injuries within the body. | £33,000 |
| Penile penetration, with no consent, of one or more of the mouth, vagina, or anus | The offence will cause the person a severe permanent disabling mental illness, which is confirmed by a psychiatric prognosis. | £27,000 |
| Penile penetration, with no consent, of one or more of the mouth, vagina, or anus | The offence will cause the person serious physical injuries within the body. | £22,000 |
| Penile penetration, with no consent, of one or more of the mouth, vagina, or anus | The offence is repeated over a period of up to three years. | £16,500 |
| Penile penetration, with no consent, of one or more of the mouth, vagina, or anus | A singular incident. | £11,000 |
| Sexual Assault | One or more oral to genital or non-penile penetrative acts leading to serious physical injuries within the person's body. | £22,000 |
| Sexual Assault | One or more oral to genital or non-penile penetrative acts as a pattern of repetitive and frequent incidents over the course of up to three years. | £6,600 |
| Sexual Assault | A singular incident of one or more oral to genital or non-penile penetrative acts. | £3,300 |
| Sexual Assault | A serious repeated pattern of non-penetrative physical sexual acts underneath clothing. | £3,300 |
It is important to note that you can claim for multiple injuries from the main tariff, which would all separately qualify. These are subject to the following formula:
- 100% of the tariff amount – the injury valued as the highest.
- 30% of the tariff amount – the second-highest or equal-valued injury, and
- 15% of the tariff amount – the third-highest or equal-valued injury.
You could also possibly receive a separate payment if you became pregnant, lost a foetus or caught an STI due to the violent crime. This will be from a separate tariff and so won’t be subject to the multiple injury formula.
Can Special Expenses Make Up Part Of My Sexual Abuse Compensation?
As per the CICA scheme, it is possible to receive a payment under special expenses for financial losses you have suffered as a direct result of the violent crime. These losses must be deemed as reasonable and necessary and not be available for free elsewhere. Additionally to this, it may be possible for you to receive a payment for loss of earnings.
For more information regarding your eligibility to receive the various types of potential criminal injury compensation awarded by the CICA, please speak to one of our advisors. Additionally, make an enquiry to find out about the differences in the sexual abuse compensation awarded for successful criminal injury claims made directly against the perpetrator or a vicariously liable party.
What Evidence Could Help Me Claim After Reporting Sexual Abuse Years Later?
After reporting sexual abuse years later and applying to make a criminal injury claim through the CICA, there will be evidence that you are required to provide. This includes:
- Evidence of you meeting the residency requirements laid out by the CICA.
- A police reference number proving that the crime has been reported.
- Medical evidence.
- Evidence of financial losses.
If you bring forward your claim via a different avenue, you may be required to provide different evidence. Speak to our advisors to find out what evidence you may need to strengthen your claim.
Use Our Panel Of No Win No Fee Sexual Abuse Claims Solicitors To Claim
Our team of advisors have access to the No Win No Fee sexual abuse claims solicitors on our panel, which they could place you in contact with should an advisor find that you may have valid grounds to make a criminal injury claim. They may offer to work on your case under a Conditional Fee Agreement (CFA), which would mean that generally, you won’t pay for the services provided by a No Win No Fee solicitor at the following times:
- Upfront
- During the ongoing claim
- In the event your claim is unsuccessful
Although, if your claim is successful, a small percentage will be deducted, by your solicitor, from the compensation. This is known as a success fee, which is capped by legislation.
Contact Us For Free To See If You Could Claim Through The CICA
To discuss your claim with one of our advisors, don’t hesitate to get in touch today. They can advise you on the most suitable avenue for your case.
You can:
- Call us on the provided number
- Contact us through our online form
- Write to an advisor using the live chat feature on this page
Learn More About How To Make Sexual Abuse Claims
For more information regarding sexual abuse claims, please explore more of the guides on our website:
- Sexual Abuse By Your Mother – How To Claim Compensation
- Can I Make A Claim For Sexual Abuse By My Father?
- Can I Claim For The Long-Term Effects Of Sexual Abuse I Experienced?
Additionally, take a look at the following sources:
- Victim Support – Help and support
- NHS – Spotting signs of child sexual abuse
- GOV.UK – After a crime: your rights
Thank you for reading this guide to reporting sexual abuse years later and making a criminal injury claim. Contact our advisors with any queries relating to your claim.
Writer Jess Ocean
Publisher Fern Scrimshaw
