£3m for work injury that sent sex drive out of control

 

Last updated at 14:15pm on 19th December 2006

Sarah Tame said her husband's injury has destroyed their marriage

 

 

 

A man who complained that a head injury at work led to his sex drive running out of control today won more than £3 million damages at the High Court.

Stephen Tame, 29, became "sexually disinhibited" after suffering the severe injury but is now £3,166,054 better off.

The committed Christian said that the blow, when he fell from a gantry while working at a cycle warehouse in Wickford, Essex, threw his marriage on to the rocks.

His personality transformed from a happily married man into frolicking with a prostitute, using pornography and cheating on his wife.

He became abusive and aggressive and was forced to spend time in a mental hospital, the court heard.

Mr Tame was aged 24 and had been married to Sarah, now 30, for just eight months before he suffered the injuries in January 2002.

He sued his former employers, Professional Cycle Marketing, for £4 million compensation. The £3 million figure was set by Judge Michael Harris after a week-long trial.

The money is earmarked for the costs of his future care and the earnings lost by Mr Tame, of East Bergholt, Suffolk.

His counsel Bill Braithwaite QC told the court that Mr Tame would be unable to work and that his marriage was unlikely to survive.

He made a good neurological recovery after two years of hospital treatment but his behavioural problems were persistent. Mrs Tame has moved out on several occasions and is living with her parents in Basildon, Essex.

She repeatedly broke down as she described her turmoil. "We love each other but the love is slowly going. We love each other but it's not 'in love'. I love Steve but it's turning into friendship," she said.

Lawyers for the company had claimed that he would be capable of working up to 16 hours a week in the future, and that his marriage may survive. The judge ruled that the lives of Mr and Mrs Tame had been "shattered" after the fall and he was still severely disabled.

His continuing behavioural problems and two recent acts of infidelity had strained an already troubled short marriage to the point where it was doubtful it would survive for even another year, said the judge.

This meant Mr Tame, of Wickford, Essex, would be without the care of his wife. Mrs Tame is receiving treatment for clinical depression.

Mr Tame's former employers had admitted liability but contested the amount of the award.

Poor guy, I mean he got a bunch of money but sounds pretty messed.