Personal injury case awarded record £17.5m payout

A new personal injury compensation record has been set with the payment of £17.5 million to Chrissie Johnson, who was left paralysed and with brain damage following a car accident four years ago.

In a High Court case the judge ruled the insurer of the car's driver, Serena Compton-Cooke, is to pay the injured party - now 20 years old - a £4 million lump sum, followed by annual index-linked payments for the rest of Ms Johnson's life.

Mr Justice Swift stated: "No amount of money can redress the damage that was caused," adding the personal injury compensation should "improve the prospects of maximising [Chrissie's] potential" and help her family live an easier, more normal life.

The victim had just passed 12 GCSEs and was set for a promising career in sport, but is now confined to a wheelchair and needs 24-hour support.

Manny Helmot, former Commonwealth Games cycling competitor, was recently awarded £14 million after he was knocked off his bike while training, causing severe damage to his vision and right arm.