A student condemned to life in a wheelchair after being hit by a van on her paper round has been guaranteed a substantial compensation payout.

Sarah Miles, of Queens Mount, Five Ashes, Mayfield, was just 14. She suffered a severe head injury when the van hit her as she cycled on the A267 in June, 1993, and is confined to a wheelchair.

At a High Court hearing, Deputy High Court Judge David Foskett QC said Sarah was 20 per cent responsible. But 80 per cent of blame was shared between her former employer, John Pope, trading as Bucks Newsagents, of Mayfield, van driver Michael Smith, of Chatham, and his former employers, M.P. Burke, of South Yorkshire.

The ruling opens the way for Sarah to seek at least six-figure damages for her injuries. The amount will be assessed at another hearing unless terms are agreed. The judge ruled Mr Pope is liable to pay 60 per cent of the damages and the remaining 40 per cent must be paid by the estate of Mr Smith, who died a year after the accident, and M.P. Burke.

Sarah's brother Andrew, who had done the newspaper round for a year, told the court the road was always very busy at that time of day. It was necessary for Sarah to cross the road at least six times, the judge added.

"Anyone who applied his or her mind to the question of the safety of the person carrying out the paper round would have realised it was essential to minimise the number of crossings of the road."

Even an experienced cyclist would find it difficult to cross the A267 several times during the morning rush-hour. "What ought to have been borne in mind by Mr Pope was that a 14-year-old schoolgirl was being expected to negotiate this particular road."

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