A convicted rapist has been granted full access to his £7.2million lottery winnings after a 15-year legal battle. Iorworth Hoare was sentenced to life in prison in 1989 for the attempted rape of Shirley Woodman as she walked through Roundhay Park, Leeds.
He had six previous convictions for rape and other sex offences since 1973, according to the Mirror. In August 2004, he purchased a lottery ticket while on weekend leave from Leyhill open prison in Gloucestershire - and won the £7.2 million jackpot.
The 70-year-old was released on licence in 2005, but prevented from having unlimited access to the lottery funds. It is understood that he was initially granted a monthly allowance of £8,666.
To receive his fortune in full, Hoare required the consent of the fund trustees – a Home Office official, his lawyer and his accountant. In 2008, he began legal action to win control of the cash, and has now been granted complete access, plus interest.
He has since used his money to build a property portfolio and art collection, including a Picasso 'Bull' sketch. A Home Office source said: “There was nothing legally which could be done to stop him in the end.”
Now, Shirley's daughter Shelley Wolfson, 67, is urging Hoare to give the money to charity. Shirley - who was 59 years old when she was attacked by the serial sex offender - took legal action back in 2004 after learning about Hoare's lottery win in a bid to win compensation from him.
After years of fighting, Shirley won her case in the High Court and successfully changed the laws surrounding compensation for serious assault in 2011. Hoare was forced to pay £500,000 in damages to Shirley, which she gave away to good causes, and almost £800,000 in legal costs.
Her daughter Shelley told the Mirror: “She gave all the money away to charity and it’s what he should be doing with his money. He can do good with that money, like my mum did. People thought my mum was going after his millions – she wasn’t. It was about getting the law changed.
“She gave all the money away and it’s what he should be doing with his money. I certainly do think he should pay back the system like my mum wanted him to and help good causes. He can do good with that money like my mum did. She was wonderful.”
Shirley, a “magnificent” former head teacher, died last year, aged 92, but left a legacy for other victims of sexual assault. Her efforts allowed survivors, such as those who were abused by Jimmy Savile and Rotherham, to claim compensation.
In 2012, she received an MBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace for services to her community. Shelley said: “I’m so pleased she got the recognition. She made an impact and what I’m pleased about is all the cases that came after. People at least have some redress and remedy.”
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