A YOUNG woman who was hit with a bottle while enjoying festive drinks with friends has received compensation for her injuries following an 18-month battle.

Hayley Foster, then 18, was in the Fir Tree pub in Reddish with her partner Aaron on Christmas Eve 2007, when a brawl erupted and she received a blow to the head with a bottle.

She suffered a deep cut above her left eye and several other lacerations.

Hayley, now 20, from Romiley, Stockport, says police only took down basic details of the attack and didn't get hold of CCTV footage of the attack.

As a result, Hayley's claims for compensation from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) were turned down twice because police told the authority she did not cooperate with them and her injuries were a result of an accident. But after persevering, Hayley has now been awarded £1,500 in compensation.

Hayley, who works as a secretary, said: "When the police arrived, it was obvious to them that I was badly injured and yet they seemed more concerned about dispersing the crowd than taking proper statements from us.

"In fact, they only took my name and date of birth. The police also failed to request CCTV footage, which was available to them, something I found amazing in the circumstances."

Shock

Hayley added: "I was really surprised when it was suggested I didn't cooperate with the police. I was in a state of shock when they arrived and just wanted to get to hospital.

"As to whether it was an accident, the man who hit me lashed out like a lunatic and I bore the full force of his attack. It was no accident, he meant to hit someone. Unfortunately, it was an innocent bystander."

She added: "I feel a lot better now that this is over with. I wanted to make the point of winning. I've got a scar on my head and it still hurts sometimes."

Simon Quinn, a personal-injury specialist at Manchester law firm Pannone, who Hayley turned to for help with her claim, said: "The CICA is a government body which is able to compensate victims of violent crime. Sadly, making an application to it for compensation can be complex and some people may be put off if they are initially refused.

"Hayley had her first two applications rejected because it was said she didn't cooperate with the police and that her injuries were the result of an accident, not a violent crime.

"Fortunately, we were able to argue her case successfully a third time and she was awarded £1,500 for what was a violent and totally unprovoked attack in which she received serious injuries."

A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: "It was apparent a mass brawl had taken place and no witnesses or victims came forward to report a crime. Had Miss Foster done so, GMP would've investigated fully.

"In this case, officers asked Miss Foster how she came to have her injuries but she was unable to explain to them.

"Their main concern was that she receive treatment for her injuries so officers called her an ambulance, took her name and date of birth and ensured she went off to hospital.

"Greater Manchester Police takes all reports of crime extremely seriously and everything possible is done to support the victims."