Rape victim gets justice against millionaire’s estate after lengthy legal battle
14 November 2006
High Court awards one of the highest ever damages in a
rape case to victim
A woman has been awarded a record amount of damages in a civil
claim for rape amounting to £259,000, inclusive of interest, by the
High Court in London. Amanda Lawson was repeatedly raped by the now
deceased millionaire computer tycoon, Christopher Dawes. Nearly
eight years after the events, the court has today accepted Miss
Lawson’s account of events and has compensated her for the
terrifying ordeal that she suffered.
In December 1998, Christopher Dawes, a computer entrepreneur,
invited Miss Lawson to his hotel on the Channel Island of Alderney
on the premise of interviewing her for a job running a new
modelling agency. Put in contact with Mr Dawes by a friend, Miss
Lawson had been told the job was the ‘opportunity of a
lifetime’.
She was flown out to Alderney in a helicopter and expected to
return that night. Once there it became clear that interviewing
Miss Lawson was not Mr Dawes’ intention. Instead, Ms Lawson was
forced to take crack cocaine against her will and was raped and
sexually assaulted repeatedly over a three day period. Unable to
leave the island due to the airport’s closure over the Christmas
period and terrorised by Mr Dawes’ threatening behaviour she was
trapped, unable to escape. Eventually, Mr Dawes released Miss
Lawson who went directly to the police station.
Three months later, during which time the criminal investigation
into the rape was still ongoing, Mr Dawes was killed in a car crash
whilst driving his sports car.
Miss Lawson suffered significant psychiatric trauma as a
consequence of the events in Alderney which led to the loss of her
hairdressing business and the break up of a relationship which had
been expected to end in marriage.
When she sued Mr Dawes’ estate, they defended by arguing that
Miss Lawson was lying. However following a six day High Court
trial, Mr Justice Eady today held that there was overwhelming
evidence of Mr Dawes’ predatory behaviour towards women. He
concluded that Miss Lawson was telling the truth and that she had
been subjected to a terrifying ordeal involving multiple rape and
sexual assault. This finding led him to award the high level of
damages to her amounting to £259,000.
Miss Lawson’s solicitor, personal injury
specialist, Jill
Greenfield of Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP comments, “Amanda
suffered an horrific ordeal at the hands of Christopher Dawes. This
is, I understand, one of the highest awards made by a UK court in a
rape case and reflects the truly devastating nature of what Amanda
has been through.”
Amanda Lawson comments, “I hope that my actions give other rape
victims the courage to stand up to their attackers, no matter who
they are or how long it takes.”
Solicitor - Jill
Greenfield, Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP
Leading Counsel - Michael Soole QC, 4 New Square
Junior Counsel - Jalil Asif, 4 New Square
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Louise Eckersley, PR Manager on 020 7861 4120