Grandmother faces compensation fight after postman trips

A woman of 61 is worried she may lose her home after a postman successfully sued after tripping up outside her property.

Colin Hatch said he suffered torn ligaments in his knee when he ran after being frightened by Pauline Little’s pet dog. He fell after catching his foot on a cracked paving stone. He later retired from the Royal Mail on health grounds but has since found work as a handyman.

A judge at Middlesbrough County Court found in his favour and will decide on the amount of compensation to be paid. Mr Hatch is claiming £34,000 with the same amount in legal fees. Mrs Little says that if she is forced to pay that amount she will lose her home and still be left owing thousands. She bought the £80,000 property on a substantial mortgage and at the time of the incident she had let her buildings insurance policy lapse.