The man who cheated death at the hands of serial killer Dennis Nilsen has condemned a decision to give the murderer cash for a human rights claim.

Dennis Nilsen, who killed at least 17 men in the 1970s and 1980s has been awarded £55,000 to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights to try to publish his autobiography.

Carl David Stotter, 50, of Brighton, said he was enraged to hear Nilsen, who tried to suffocate and drown him, has been given aid - even though the victim has not received a penny in compensation for his ordeal.

Nilsen was refused permission to publish his manuscript by the highest courts in Britain so has taken his case to the European Court in Strasbourg.

That court makes the decision on whether to give him the money to argue his case, but the British government will end up footing the bill.

Mr Stotter said: “Why should he have his human rights when his victims haven't any?

“It's not justice.

“This happened to be 29 years ago and I never forgot it.

“I feel really angry, but this is not just about me. It is about all the people he killed too.

“I stopped Nilsen having his book published once before and we won, but no one told me he was going to try again.

“This is not right. There is less help for victims than killers.

“I have not received a penny of help from anyone.

“I was the only one of his victims left to be able to seek compensation and I got nothing.”