Stephen Glynn achieves settlement for claimant who was assaulted at school

News | Mon 11th May, 2015

Stephen Glynn represented the claimant in the case of Lucy Pyett v. The London Borough of Merton QB March 2015.  Ms Pyett was seriously sexually assaulted by a number of other pupils at her state secondary school in south London in October 2010.  She was aged 14 at the time. 

The assault took place in the school toilets during first break and continued for about an hour until the school bell rang for lunch.  The toilet block was not patrolled or inspected by any of the school staff in contravention of the school’s policy and, moreover, Lucy’s teacher did not notice her absence in the lesson after the break or take any steps because of it. 

Lucy had to give evidence at the subsequent criminal trial against her attackers who were all sentenced to periods of imprisonment.  Lucy suffered serious psychiatric illness on top of the physical injuries suffered.  Her schooling was badly disrupted but despite this she obtained 4 GCSEs and 2 BTech qualifications.  These grades were much lower than had been expected of her before the assault.  She had previously been selected to be on the gifted and talented register and was otherwise a very able pupil before the assault.  Lucy has now managed to find work in a public house where her mother also works. 

As ever, in cases concerning children who are injured at a relatively young age, it was very difficult to prove what Lucy’s earnings would have been but for the assault.

The parties compromised the claim in the sum of £155,000.

Stephen Glynn was instructed by Sarah Towler of Russell Cooke LLP.