Court accepts £250 offer to victim of rape attempt
THE TIMES
9th AUG , 1980.
An attacker made what is believed to be legal history at the Central Criminal Court yesterday when the judge accepted his offer of £250 compensation to the woman he had tried to rape.
Judge Lawson, QC, said he was surprised to learn that the court had the power to make such a order in such a case but he was satisfied it was a proper course to take.
Guy Lennox, aged 30, a restaurant worker, was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to pay his victim compensation at the rate of £10 a month.
He was found guilty of attempted rape and assault. Leading lawyers believe it is the first time compensation under the Powers of Criminal Courts Act, 1973, has been given in the case of a sexual attack. Judge Lawson, who was told that Mr. Lennox had spent several months in custody before his first trial, which ended in a jury disagreement, said: " There is no question of him buying himself out of trouble ".
Mr. Roger Davies, for the prosecution, said that Mr. Lennox, of Lisle Street, Westminster, invited his victim, a waitress aged 30, to his flat for drinks. She agreed to go because she knew him but made clear that there was to be no "funny business ".
Mr. Lennox grabbed her when she rejected his sexual advances and when he tried to rape her she screamed and was heard by neighbours, who called the police.
Judge Lawson said the victim suffered substantial shock but no serious injury.
Mr. Jonathan Mitchell, for the defence, suggested the compensation order. He said Mr. Lennox was willing to pay on moral grounds. He added: "On the particular facts of this case, a borderline one, it may be a way of doing overall justice ".
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board had awarded thousands of pounds in rape and attempted rape cases, Mr. Mitchell said, but it was unusual for a defendant to offer compensation at a Crown Court.
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