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After a convicted rapist won £7 million in the lotto while on temporary release from prison, his victims were informed that since they had missed the six-year compensation claim deadline they would not be able to lay claim or receive any compensation for the pain and suffering he caused them.

After serving only 15 years of a life sentence on a May 1989 conviction of attempted rape, he has served the minimum of the sentence which is seven years and the subsequent eight years were due to officials deeming him a public safety risk to release him from prison. He was actually scheduled for release from prison in 2005 and has spent an entire year in an open prison program in preparation for permanent release.

During that time he worked in the community and while staying on weekend leave at a bail hostel purchased a lotto ticket that netted him £7 million. When officials got word of his lotto win, fearing his would flee, his temporary release was revoked and he was returned to prison, pending assessment.

Criminals on temporary leave from prison are not barred from purchasing lottery tickets. However, the government wants to make certain that victims can benefit from substantial financial gains that the criminal may fall into. Under the current system, most victims never file for compensatory damage for pain and suffering. This is due largely to the poor financial position of the criminal. In these instances, it is unfair to have a 6-year rule as the victim should be given the right to proceed with compensation claims at a time when the criminal is in a position to be sued due to a newly acquired positive financial position.

At present the law only allows a victim one claim for compensation from a convicted criminal and it must be initiated within 6 years of the offence. If a new law is passed, it would be used to allow victims a second change at litigation and compensation claim, if the criminal suddenly became wealthy, either due to lottery windfalls, inheritance and the like.

The government wants to change the law so that future victims are able to file and be awarded compensation when a convicted criminal receives a windfall. David Blunkett, Home Secretary wants to put in place new legislation that is well detailed in terms and clause; guaranteeing victims the absolute right and ability to make similar claims in the future. Ironically the convicted rapist was taken into protective custody at a closed prison after being rearrested has a security risk. Staff members at the prison are reassessing his ability to be sent to an open jail as he may skip out now that he has the funds.