Daughter of Shirley Woodman reacts to sex attacker's access to £7m

Shirley Woodman, a former headteacher at Netherlands Avenue School in Low Moor, Bradford, was attacked and sexually assaulted as she walked through Roundhay Park in Leeds in 1988.

Shirley Woodman, a former headteacher at Netherlands Avenue School in Low Moor (Image: UGC)

Iorworth Hoare, now 70, was jailed for 30 years for that attack and a number of other sex attacks.

But in 2004, while on day release from prison, Hoare bought a National Lottery ticket which netted him a £7.2 million jackpot.

He has now been granted full access to the money, The Mirror has reported. 

According to the national newspaper, Hoare was prevented from having unlimited access to his money under the conditions of his release licence, and was understood to initially have a monthly allowance of £8,666 after he left jail in 2005.

The rest of the £7.2m could only be accessed with consent of the fund trustees.

The paper reports he began legal action to win control of the money in 2008 and can now access it, plus interest, with a Home Office source telling the paper there was "nothing legally which could be done to stop him in the end".

Shirley's daughter, Shelley Wolfson, says Hoare should donate some of £7.2m to charity, just as her late mother did with the ­damages he was forced to pay her.

Shirley Woodman, a former headteacher in Bradford (Image: UGC)

Shirley sued Hoare for damages after the attack, but he used the law of limitations - putting a six-year limit on claims for compensation - to fight her claim.

Against the odds, the mother of three - known only as ‘Mrs A’ at the time - spent four years pursuing her case through the courts, to the House of Lords.

In 2008, she won a groundbreaking ruling that, in cases of serious assault, courts would have the discretion to extend that limit.

She was later awarded £50,000 compensation in an out-of-court settlement with Hoare. Shirley donated her compensation to charity.

Her efforts paved the way for other victims of such crimes to claim damages.

Shelley, 67, of Wyke, said would like Hoare to donate at least a portion of his winnings to charity.

"Perhaps all the interest that he will have earned could be donated to charity," she said.

"He could distribute one or two million pounds to charity. I'd be happy to meet up with him to help him with that.

"It's a starter. He's 70. He can't spend all that money. He can't live a frivolous life because of what he's done."

Shelley, who described her mum as a compassionate person, said she and her mum "don't bear any malice" to Hoare.

"My mum was frightened of him but she wanted him to be rehabilitated," she said.

"She had a certain amount of compassion for him. Our family has never been vindictive.

"I don't let what's happen to mum dominate my life, otherwise, he wins.

"I miss my mum terribly. She was a very compassionate woman and very active in the community."

Mrs Woodman waived her right to anonymity when she accepted an MBE from the Queen in 2012.

Shirley Woodman was awarded an MBE in 2012 (Image: UGC)

"When she took Hoare to court, she was never greedy and it wasn't about the money," said Shelley.

"She wanted to change the law. She was awarded £50,000 at the time, which she gave to charity.

"She would have given away £5 million if she could."

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “All offenders released on licence are subject to strict conditions and will be recalled to prison if they break the rules.”

Rules were changed after the Hoare case in 2007 and prisoners are not allowed to take part in any games of chance played for financial gain.