£600k payout to teen witness

A TEENAGE court witness was given a £600,000 payout by the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police after he was put at risk, it has been reported.

The boy was promised anonymity to give evidence about a gang attack, but his details were inadvertently given to gang members, according to reports.

The payout, awarded in 2008, is thought to be one of the largest of its kind and came as the family of three had to be moved for their protection.

Yesterday, a CPS spokesman said: “This payment relates to concerns about the safety of a young witness and their family, so that they had to be provided with protective measures.”