Mother seeks compensation over injured baby

The mother of a baby boy whose life was forever changed by a falling window has launched a bid for more than £300,000 in injury compensation.

In 2006, Patricia Dance was pushing her four-month-old son Alexander around central London when he was struck by a falling window pane outside Dover Castle hostel.

Four years later, her son Alexander is said to have fewer intellectual skills than children half his age due to suffering a fractured skull and brain haemorrhage that fateful day.

Although Alexander seems to recognise his mother, the only word he can understand or speak is "no". He is also incontinent and suffers from epileptic convulsions. He may need further surgery to control his epilepsy and is likely to need care for the rest of his life.

Ms Dance is now suing Foreign Magic Ltd, which runs the central London hostel, for negligence after the company accepted that health and safety lapses led to the accident.

The family's legal team has accused the company of not properly maintaining the premises, not replacing the second-floor window with a secure window, and not heeding previous problems with windows, according to a High Court writ.

In 2008, Foreign Magic Ltd was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,500 after Southwark Council prosecuted the company under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. An investigation by the council revealed defective, rotten window frames.

A spokesperson for the council said at the time; "Businesses cannot afford to be lax around routine maintenance of their premises and need to take all practicable steps to do the necessary work."