£600,000 for witness gaffe

A teenage court witness was given a £600,000 payout by the Crown Prosecution Service and Metropolitan Police after he was put at risk, it has been reported.

The boy was promised anonymity to give evidence about a violent gang attack but his details were inadvertently given to gang members, the BBC said.

The payout, in 2008, came as the family of three had to be moved for their protection.

A CPS spokesman said: "We regret that on this occasion we did not provide the support which is normally available."