Victims of paedophile Bill Starling are being refused compensation because of their own criminal records.

Starling, 74, of Rantree Fold, Basildon, is serving a 14-year jail sentence for abusing dozens of young boys and girls at children's homes over more than a decade.

But now some of those victims - who claim they turned to crime themselves because of their childhood trauma - are being denied compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

One of Starling's victims - who cannot be named for legal reasons - said his sister, also abused by Starling, had been awarded £11,000 by the authority and then had it all taken back.

A spokesman for the CICA said: "A criminal past can be a factor in refusal or reduction of compensation. There are varying qualifying factors and the conduct before, during and after the incident is a factor.

"We cannot speak about individual cases."

Published Friday August 9, 2002

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