Family welcomes injury award

Joan Waters was worried about Allan's future care

The adoptive parents of a man left brain damaged after being attacked by his natural mother have welcomed a £1.4m compensation award.

Allan Waters, 22 - but with the mental age of a six-year-old - needs round-the-clock care at his home in Whitland, Carmarthenshire.

The money - awarded by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority - will meet costs involved in looking after his special needs

Allan was assaulted by his natural mother when he was just 10 weeks old. She kicked him round the room to try and silence his crying and left him with broken bones and severe brain damage.

The attack happened when he and his mother - who had become pregnant aged 16 while living in a care home - were living in Kent.

I think if Allan had not been assaulted, he would have been a very bright young man. Joan Waters

Joan Waters - who began fostering him when he was four-and-a-half months old, and officially adopted him when he was three - said the compensation award would make a huge difference to Allan's care.

Carmarthenshire Social Services currently provide a carer for 20 hours a week, but the money means the Joan and her husband Peter will now be able to afford full-time help.

Mrs Waters told BBC Wales that it would improve Allan's quality of life, and help him when she and her husband were too old to do so.

"The money will help," she said. "It will relieve us of the financial burden and it will improve his quality of life because if he wants something he can have it."

Bringing up Allan alongside their three other children has not been easy for the Waters family without full-time help.

"If he's going out with his carer he'll be up around 0700 BST, so I have from then until 1000 BST to get him ready, which is extremely hard work," she explained.

Allan Waters pictured at the age of two

"It takes so long because he gets ready at his own pace.

"I think if Allan had not been assaulted, he would have been a very bright young man. Because of his injuries a grown man functions as a six-year-old year old child.

"He watches the Tweenies and does things a kid would do, whereas he would have been down the pub or something."

The award in Cardiff on Thursday followed a hearing when solicitors put his case before senior judges.

Lawyer Steve Ireland, who acted on Allan's behalf, said he was delighted Mr Waters had received compensation for his "catastrophic injuries".

"This very large award has been calculated to ensure he has all the support, therapy and equipment he needs to make the most of his life," he said.

"It takes into account the cost of the care Allan has received to date from his adoptive family, plus for the future care they will provide with the help of employed professionals.

"Obviously, Allan's injuries were caused in a rare and extreme incident, and each day of his life he and his family have to deal with the results of that attack.

"The fact that Allan has a greater quality of life than anyone dare hope for is a testament to his determination and the love and dedication of his family."

The compensation will be retained by the Court of Protection and will be administered to the Waters family when it is required.