Pregnant woman told to collect own compensation money from attacker

Cheryl Connolly and her husband Patrick have criticised the initiative as a joke and still haven't received a penny in compensation nearly three months after their ordeal.

Mrs Connolly, a former financial consultant, was told by police that she would have to go round to the home of woman who subjected her to a torrent of abuse and who scratched obscene words into the bonnet of her car to collect the money - or hand over her personal banking details to the woman.

The 38-year-old mother-of-two, who was bleeding and feared she was having a miscarriage when she was rushed to her GP surgery, said: "It is absolutely disgusting. The entire criminal justice system is set up to help the criminals and make it harder for the victims.

"I was verbally abused and had my car vandalised by this woman - I didn't do anything wrong.

"The woman even admitted doing it and agreed to pay £300 in compensation.

"When I asked how I would get the money the police officer said I would have to go round to her house to pick it up every month or give her my bank details."

She added: "The police did deal with it quickly but not properly. This restorative justice doesn't work in these circumstances."

The couple's ordeal began when Mr Connolly, a delivery driver, was dropping off his wife at her doctor's surgery in March after she started bleeding heavily and they feared she was having a miscarriage. The car park was full so he dropped off his wife, then managed to get a spot when and elderly woman left the surgery.

He said a woman then started shouting at him over the space and later she later scratched an offensive word across the bonet with a key.

The woman admitted what she had done to officers and she was ordered by police to pay compensation of £300 under the restorative justice programme.

It means the case was not taken to court, however, the money has not yet been paid.

It the woman does not pay then the police cannot take action and the couple will have to go through the civil courts.

The couple, who live in Chorley, Lancs, have now enlisted the help of their MP Lindsay Hoyle who has written to Justice Secretary Jack Straw and the Chief Constable of Lancashire Police.

In the letter he wrote: "I am concerned that there is no follow through procedure to support the victims and ensure that payments are received. I would be grateful if you could confirm whether my constituent will have to arrange collection."

Insp David Lee, Lancashire Constabulary's restorative justice co-ordinator, said: "Restorative justice needs the agreement of both parties.

"It can be very powerful. In this case the offending party - the harmer - is more than happy to hand over the money. The problem seems to be the mechanics of how this happens.

"We would not expect people to divulge details of their bank accounts. The officer is now going to see the best way of resolving the situation."