Sue Lottery rapist for his £7m, says minister

Victims of the rapist who won £7million on the National Lottery were today urged by a government minister to sue him.

Home Office Minister Hazel Blears said she hoped at least one of the women attacked by Iorworth Hoare would go to court to claim a share of his prize.

Speaking as Home Secretary David Blunkett announced he was to change the law to force prisoners to hand over all or part of any future Lottery winnings, Ms Blears said: "I would hope that somebody, somewhere, is thinking about the possibility of civil proceedings for damages."

Few rape victims sue for damages, partly because their attackers usually have little wealth, but Hoare's new fortune could open the way for claims.

He won the Lotto Extra jackpot on Saturday while staying at a Middlesbrough bail hostel on weekend leave. He is now back behind bars.

Ms Blears added: "I think most people would be absolutely outraged at what has happened."

Her comments came as Hoare's wife vowed to sue him and give the proceeds to his victims. Irene Hoare, 55, said: "I don't want a penny of that bastard's dirty money, but I want to help all the people that he hurt."

Mrs Hoare married the serial sex attacker - who had told her he was in jail for bank robbery - in a prison chapel in 1993.

Hoare, formerly of Leeds, was given a life sentence in 1989 for attempting to rape a 60-year-old woman in a park in the city. He already had convictions for one rape, three attempted rapes and three indecent assaults.

Mrs Hoare, from Middlesbrough, who has only now learned the truth about her 52-year-old husband's criminal record, plans to divorce him as soon as she can.

She said: "How the hell can a bastard like this be allowed to get his hands on £7million? I think it's vile that he will be allowed to keep it. The only people who should get it are his victims."

She met Hoare after she and a friend joined a pen-pal scheme writing to prisoners. The couple lost contact after Hoare was moved to prisons in Wales and the Isle of Wight and she felt unable to travel to visit him. She has not seen her husband for nine years.

Mrs Hoare said: "I only met him about eight or nine times during the marriage. Eventually the whole thing just fizzled out. Then I threw out everything he'd ever given me."

Hoare's brother also spoke out in the wake of the Lottery win, saying he felt sorry for the victims and wanted nothing to do with Hoare or his fortune.

Hospital night porter Rhys Owen said: "One of the victims was 60 and she must be in her eighties now. It must be difficult for her having to read all this again."

Experts have said Hoare's victims could sue him for stress and trauma, though the normal sixyear deadline for compensation has long passed.

Solicitor Neil Sugarman, a compensation specialist, said: "They could say they didn't act at the time because he had no money."

Under the change in the law proposed by Mr Blunkett today, prisoners would be made to give their Lottery winnings to a fund from which victims could apply for compensation. The Home Secretary said: "We can't stop a prisoner or their family from buying a ticket, but we can look closely at making sure they don't benefit from a single penny while in prison."

His plans would not retrospectively affect Hoare's right to keep his winnings. Mr Blunkett said legislation already before Parliament would allow officials to recover proceedings of Lottery winnings from criminals.

He writes in today's Sun: "The task now is to make sure that crime truly doesn't pay. My plans currently before Parliament will mean rich criminals will find their punishment is in tune with their bank balance."