A WORKER at a Fenland factory whose life was torn apart when a car crash left him paralysed from the neck down has been awarded a long-term care package worth �8 million. Lukasz Borowski, now 27, living in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was today awarded the

A WORKER at a Fenland factory whose life was torn apart when a car crash left him paralysed from the neck down has been awarded a long-term care package worth �8 million.

Lukasz Borowski, now 27, living in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, was today awarded the settlement at Newcastle High Court after a crash in November 2005 left him paralysed and wheelchair-bound for life.

Mr Borowski was a rear seat passenger in a car being driven by Rozell Sands of Park Road, Wisbech, who was driving her Peugeot 306 to the MBM vegetable packing plant when it crashed into a water filled drain near the Whittlesey Road, March, factory.

Sands herself was cut free from the wreckage but sustained only minor injuries and a second passenger also escaped serious injury. Sands was later arrested and charged by police after they discovered she had taken driven her car without insurance and also used it with a defective tyre.

In June 2006 she appeared before Fenland magistrates and was fined �200 for using the car without insurance and fined a further �50 for the defective tyre. Six points were endorsed on her licence.

The �8.35 million announced today has been reached with the Motor Insurer's Bureau, which protects the injured victims of uninsured negligent drivers.

Injury lawyer John Davis of law firm Irwin Mitchell secured the settlement and said it was calculated carefully to reflect the shattering impact the crash had on Mr Borowski's life and will provide for his long-term care needs.

Mr Davis said the total settlement was valued at nearly �10.5 million - one of the highest compensation payouts ever seen in the UK - but that Mr Borowski accepted a 20 per cent reduction because he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.

Mr Davis added: "Mr Borowski's life was changed forever in an instant, as a result of a crash that was not his fault. He will be wheelchair-bound for the rest of his life but cannot move himself and needs help with almost all aspects of daily life - he'll never work again.

"His spinal injury is severe and he has been left with permanent paralysis - he has no effective movements or skin sensation below the shoulders."

Mr Borowski sustained damage to his spinal cord as well as a fractured spine, and was left brain damaged when the broken vertebrae blocked the supply of oxygen to his brain.

Mr Davis added: "This case underlines the devastating impact that careless road users can have. They are not only risking their own lives but can have a shattering effect on the lives of others, too.

"Mr Borowski's injuries are not just physical. He shows signs of a changed personality, suffers memory problems, attention deficit and a lack of concentration. "He is bright and intelligent, and can be charming and considerate, but also suffers from rapid mood swings.

"At Irwin Mitchell we go into every case fighting to get the very best results for our clients - this money will go towards ensuring he is given the best possible care. It will never compensate for what has happened but will allow Mr Borowski to live his life as fully as possible.

"The sum was calculated carefully with the assistance of a team of healthcare experts to reflect accurately what Mr Borowski will need to keep him as well cared-for, secure and comfortable as possible for the rest of his life.