Mother Awarded Compensation Following Son’s M62 Fatality

A mother whose 12-year-old son died on the M62 has successfully challenged a decision to deny her funding for his funeral expenses and counselling. Callum Rycroft’s death occurred on 5 August 2023, as he and his father, Matthew Rycroft, 37, were crossing the M62 in West Yorkshire following a car crash involving his father. Claire Bancroft, Callum’s mother, had her funding applications rejected twice by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), which contended that her son’s death did not meet the criteria for a violent crime, prior to her successful appeal. Ms Bancroft stated that her current priority is “trying to repair our family as much as I can”. In November 2023, Rycroft received a 10-year prison sentence after admitting guilt to manslaughter charges. Testimony presented in court revealed that he had consumed alcohol throughout the day of his son’s death and disregarded warnings from his parents against driving from Huddersfield to Leeds. Approximately 30 minutes after beginning their journey, Rycroft’s vehicle crashed on a slip road close to Hartshead Moor. Callum contacted his mother to inform her of the collision and conveyed that his father had instructed him to proceed along the motorway on foot. They walked for approximately 15 minutes while vehicles traveled past them at speeds of 70mph. Subsequently, they moved to the central reservation, traversing it for roughly one minute before trying to cross the carriageway again. Callum, whose autism affected his perception of speed, was hit by a car and died at the location of the incident. Rycroft continued his journey on foot, leaving his son behind. Ms Bancroft, who separated from her husband after Callum’s death, expressed, “It remains almost impossible to find the words to describe the anger, hurt and pain our family feel over his death.” She added, “When Callum left home that day I never thought for a moment that he wouldn’t return home.” Ms Bancroft further stated, “It was only because of the selfish actions and behaviour of his dad that he didn’t.” Ms Bancroft, a resident of Leeds, described her son as a “lovely boy with his entire future ahead of him”. She also conveyed, “My heart breaks when I think about how scared and frightened he must have been in those final moments.” Ms Bancroft concluded, “Our family will never be the same again without Callum. We all adored him and his death has left a huge void in our lives that we’ll never be able to replace.” Ms Bancroft commented that the initial ruling by the CICA, an organization responsible for compensating individuals physically or mentally harmed by violent crime in England, Scotland, or Wales, “added to the tremendous pain we wake with each day”. The governmental agency maintained that she did not qualify for compensation because her son’s death was not classified as violent. Conversely, Sarah Brumpton, Ms Bancroft’s solicitor, stated that Callum “hadn’t found himself in the middle of a busy motorway by choice,” adding, “He had been shouted and sworn at and manhandled.” He was compelled to walk along the motorway, and during phone conversations with his grandparents, mother, and the police, Callum was audible telling his father to get off him. Ms Bancroft’s appeal was granted at a criminal injuries compensation tribunal hearing held on 28 October. Ms Brumpton commented, “What happened was violent in its very nature and we’re pleased that the tribunal recognised this.” A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice stated that their thoughts “remain with the friends and family of Callum Rycroft”. They added, “We recognise that payment can never fully compensate for the injuries suffered but it can often help brave survivors move on with their lives.”