A British rape victim has had a court decision overturned that cut the money she was awarded by a quarter because she was drunk at the time of the incident, The Daily Mail reported Tuesday.
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) told 29-year-old Helen, whose drink was spiked before she was raped four years ago, that she would be awarded $15,696 rather than the standard $20,928 because, “The evidence that we have shows that your excessive consumption of alcohol was a contributing factor in the incident.”
The beauty therapist told The Mail that she felt the court’s decision was a “slap in the face,” and was able to have the decision overturned after her lawyer argued that it was indirect sexual discrimination.
“It felt like I was being punished for having the audacity to step up and say ‘I don't think this should have happened to me,’” Helen, whose last name was not given to protect her identity, told The Mail. “It was like going back to the 70s, saying ‘She was asking for it.’ How else could you read that letter but as saying it's my fault I was raped?”
A CICA spokesperson refused to comment on whether the organization had paid less to others victims who were raped under the influence of alcohol, The Mail reported.
The organization did say that it is not its policy to make a reduction on a claim for compensation following rape on the basis of alcohol consumption.
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