Abuse survivor reaches settlement with council after foster care ordeal
A man who was sexually abused while in foster care has reached a civil settlement with the local authority responsible for his placement, decades after the offences took place.
Last updated 9th Jan 2026
The survivor, known only as Liam in legal reporting, was taken into the council’s care at the age of 12 and placed with a foster family in the 1990s.
During his three-year placement, he was subjected to repeated sexual abuse by his foster father, who groomed him and supplied him with alcohol while exploiting his vulnerability.
The foster father was later brought to justice in a criminal court and sentenced to five and a half years in prison in 2023 for the offences against Liam.
Following that conviction, Liam pursued a civil claim against the local authority responsible for arranging his foster placement.
Lawyers supporting his case presented evidence showing the enduring impact the abuse has had on his mental health and wellbeing.
After discussions with Hertfordshire County Council’s legal representatives, the claim was settled out of court.
Liam said the process had been difficult but expressed gratitude for the support he received, particularly from his legal team:
“This has been a challenging process, and I am thankful for the compassion, care and support shown to me throughout,”
He said, thanking abuse solicitors Andrew Lord and Zayna Mahmood of Leigh Day for their work on his behalf.
His solicitor, Andrew Lord, said the settlement represented important recognition of the abuse Liam endured:
“We are pleased that Liam has been able to obtain some form of recognition for the awful abuse he was subjected to."
“It is horrendous that a foster carer would abuse the trust placed in them to care for vulnerable children. Now, with this settlement against the local authority who arranged the placement, I hope that Liam has greater access to support for his recovery journey.”
A spokesperson for Hertfordshire’s County Council, said:
“We were shocked and appalled when we found out how Liam had been treated by someone who was supposed to be keeping him safe, and we are pleased that the person responsible has been held to account for his crimes."
“Like many organisations, the way we ensure that young people in our care are kept safe has completely transformed over the last 30 years. We now have much stronger safeguarding policies in place, and there are clear procedures for allegations to be reported and properly investigated.”
No further financial terms of the settlement have been disclosed.