A stab victim who was left with irreversible brain damage after what a Judge described as “failures in medical care” at the hospital that was treating him, has been awarded £850,000 plus additional, ongoing payments for the rest of his life.

Leslie Dye, 57, who had been stabbed in the neck, was taken to Princess Alexandra Hospital in Essex where medical staff treating him failed to interpret a scan correctly. As a result, he suffered a cardiac arrest which starved his brain of oxygen and left him permanently disabled. He now requires full time, professional care.

Mr Dye, who had previously worked as a taxi driver, is now cared for full time at a centre that specialises in treating patients with traumatic brain injury that can charge up to £4000 per week.

His daughter, Emma, brought the compensation claim on her father’s behalf.

Mr Justice Burnett at the High Court said in his judgement that it was “obvious” that the hospital’s failure had contributed to the “absolutely devastating” outcome for Mr Dye, and his family. In acknowledging the severity of the medical negligence, the Judge awarded a £850,000 lump sum, plus additional index linked annual payments starting at £109,000 per annum

A spokesperson for the NHS trust that was responsible for Mr Dye’s care has apologised to him and his family for the quality of care after he was stabbed by one of his passengers. The spokesperson added that the trust has “worked hard to ensure the quality of its services improves and that nothing similar happens again”.