Police find lost files (From Stroud News and Journal)

Police find lost files

A WOMAN thought her hopes of compensation were dashed when vital documents were lost by Stroud police.

Emma Pratt of Bussage was involved in an accident in November 2000 while taking part in a sponsored bike ride for Children in Need.

A collision with an articulated lorry on the A419 left her with a twisted her knee, damage to her back and psychological scars.

She was out of work for a lengthy period following the accident and decided to try for compensation for loss of earnings and trauma.

But her case looked like it was falling apart when police told her solicitor, Roland Taylor, that the files gone astray during Stroud Police Station's refit.

"I'd been asking for the accident report for who knows how long and they said they were having difficulty finding it and eventually in December 2001 they said they weren't going to find it," said Mr Taylor.

In desperation, Emma contacted the Stroud News & Journal who rang Stroud Police.

And this week a delighted Emma was told the missing file had been rediscovered. "The papers had been erroneously filed," said Steve Partridge, a spokesman for the police.

"But they have been located and are being sent to the solicitor involved."