DWP Forced Into U-turn By Public Opinion

Daily Express

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has done a u-turn over a benefit cut that could have left a rape victim homeless after a phone call from the Hull Daily Mail the newspaper claims.

The victim, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was left for dead after being dragged off the street, beaten unconscious and repeatedly raped by Alec Lowther while walking to work in Hull two years ago.

She was left partially blind, partially deaf, suffered a brain injury, and still endures these and other long-term health problems as she tries to rebuild her life.

Incredibly, she was deemed fit to return to work when she underwent a "work capability assessment", which resulted in her £73 a week payment of employment and support allowance (ESA) being stopped on April 10.

Her housing benefit of £65 a week was also suspended, but was reinstated on appeal by Hull City Council.

But as that was her only income, and below her weekly rent of £70, she fell into arrears and was due to be evicted by her private landlord in less than a fortnight.

After being contacted by the Mail on Thursday, the DWP said it had reviewed the case and was reinstating the benefit. It was also backdating the ESA payments to the date they were stopped.

A spokesman said: "We've looked closely at [her] case, and after receiving the requested medical information have re-instated her benefits in full."

A relative of the victim, who is in her 40s and from Eastern Europe, said: "She can hardly believe it's true. We have just received a text message telling us. Thank you very much."

The woman had appealed against the decision to stop the ESA payments, but was still waiting for a date for the hearing.

The relative said: "It's good it's warmer and light for longer because she doesn't have to use so much electricity. She has been living in one room, not really living, just breathing."

She was attacked in St Mary's Churchyard, Bankside, while walking to work in the early hours of September 20, 2015.

Predator Alec Lowther, who was 21, was later caught on CCTV stalking her before bundling her over the wall into the cemetery. Before fleeing the scene, he committed a final indignity of rummaging through his victim's pockets, stealing £15 and her mobile phone - she had no means of calling for help.

Lowther, who was high on a cocktail of drugs and alcohol, had only been released from prison five days before his attack.

He was jailed for life in May last year, and must serve a minimum of five years and four months, but Hull's most senior judge said it may never be safe to release him.

Sentencing Lowther, Judge Jeremy Richardson QC told him: "As the consequences for your victim will be lifelong, so will your sentence."

As his victim struggled to access benefits and health care in the months after the attack, Mail readers showed their generosity by launching an online campaign that raised more than £1,000 for her.