Council pays £160k in damages for failing to safeguard girl raped by father

A council has paid damages of £160,000 for failing to safeguard a girl who was raped by her father, later giving birth to a son as a result.

The woman, now aged 25, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said she was repeatedly raped by her father, when she was between the ages of 10 and 17. He was sentenced to 19 years in prison in 2012.

Michael Jameson, City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council’s strategic director of children’s services, said: “This woman has gone through a terrible ordeal and as a council we have failed in our duty to protect her from abuse.

“We are deeply sorry for not doing enough to keep her safe. A settlement has been agreed and she has accepted damages of £160,000.

“Her father has been convicted for sexual offences to this woman. He is now serving a 19-year prison sentence.”

Mark Smulian