Payout cut for raped drinkers

London, Aug.13 : A sense of outrage prevails among 14 rape victims who had their compensation slashed because they had been drinking.

The Sun quoted the women as saying that the decision a "slap in the face" - saying it felt like they were being blamed for being raped.

One victim had her 11,000-pound payout cut by 25 per cent by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.

The woman, who cannot be named, said: "It was like going back to the Seventies, saying, 'She was asking for it'. How else could you read the letter but as saying it was my fault?"

The victim was 25 when she was raped in London's West End five years ago.

Her attacker was never caught and she later received an apology from the Metropolitan Police for failings in her inquiry.

Last night fury at the compensation cut forced CICA into an immediate U-turn, with officials saying the rules were "applied wrongly".

The original ruling was blasted by the Campaign to End Rape.

Spokeswoman Sandra McNeill said: "No woman is responsible for being raped."

The Ministry of Justice said no innocent victim of crime should have compensation cut simply because they had been drinking.

A spokeswoman said payments should only be cut if they'd drunk too much and "their conduct contributed to the circumstances".

ANI