Jailed kidnapper wins damages

The council in Bolton "failed" to act on expert advice

A man who committed more than 100 crimes before being jailed for life for kidnap has won compensation because he was not educated properly, the High Court has been told.

On Monday the court heard Bolton Council had agreed to pay damages to Marvin Pomfret after it was alleged the authority failed to act on expert advice when he was a teenager.

Pomfret, 23, has been serving a life sentence, for kidnap and other offences, at Full Sutton high security jail near York since 1995. It is thought he has won a five-figure sum.

However, Bolton Council said it acted appropriately in assessing Pomfret's needs and decided not to fight the case because of the cost implications for council taxpayers.

We have a responsibility to our council taxpayers and fighting this case would have resulted in huge legal costs

Bolton Council spokeswoman

At the hearing, in Manchester, Pomfret's lawyers said the council was advised to place him in a special residential school, but when it failed to do so he entered into a life of crime.

Pomfret appeared at the court handcuffed to a prison warder to hear that the settlement had been reached.

His solicitor, Philip Engleman, told judge Mr Justice Simon, the damages Pomfret has won "would remain confidential to the parties".

After the hearing a spokesman for Pomfret's solicitors said the prisoner had received educational help in prison and has got an Open University foundation degree.

Independent assessment

A Bolton Council spokeswoman said the authority acted appropriately in Pomfret's case.

"In this case, the pupil in question was given a place at a day special school for children," she said.

"It was considered that this would best meet his educational needs.

"He was assessed and it was felt by our experts and independent experts that a residential special school was not the course to follow. We stand by that decision.

"However, we have a responsibility to our council taxpayers and fighting this case would have resulted in huge legal costs."