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Do-Gooder of the Day: Man gives reward for finding rapist to victim

This guy is pretty awesome. After leading police to a man wanted for sexual assault and battery in the UK, Lloyd Gardner was told he was being given 10,000 pounds as a reward. Instead of taking the money, he gave it to the survivor:

He spotted two women he knew on the film - and they led police to rapist Jakub Tomczak.

Mr Gardner said he did not deserve the reward and hoped the cash would help the woman rebuild her life.

"It was a difficult decision to make because it is a lot of money and it would have been very helpful but I didn't feel like a deserved it at all."

The 48-year old survivor suffered a skull fracture and severe brain damage from the attack.

Considering the history of the UK agency that is supposed to give reparations to rape survivors, it feels hopeful to know we have folks like Gardner on our side.

Posted by Vanessa - October 12, 2009, at 12:39PM | in Sexual Assault , Violence Against Women

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15 Comments

what a good person.

[0+] Author Profile Page gadgetgal said:

This guy is a star - very, very selfless, and it cheered up my entire office to know that there are some people who still do good things in this world!

I saw this on BBC News yesterday. What a wonderful human being. There IS still good people out there in the world !!

[0+] Author Profile Page Cute Bruiser said:

That headline made me think the wrong thing.

[0+] Author Profile Page dawn_of_the_bread said:

Erm I read the post title to suggest something completely different.

What a great man!

[0+] Author Profile Page JenTheFem said:

Yeah, might wanna re-think that title.

Odd that, in a quote the BBC story attributes to him, the man referred to the victim as a "girl." She was twice his age.

I commend the guy, but it's depressing that simple, sensible kindnesses like this are even newsworthy.

[0+] Author Profile Page hfs replied to everybodyever :

What? Unless you are way rich, giving up ~ $16k is not "simple, sensible kindness." I don't think I would have given up all the money - the man in the article is certainly a way better man than I!

I don't understand your protestation. If it isn't simple, sensible, or kind, then what is it? As I said, I commend the guy -- but the fact that the BBC saw fit to cover this suggests to me that, to the BBC's knowledge, selfless and sensible acts like his are very rare. That depresses me.

If the law in the U.K. is anything like that in the U.S., the victim would presumably have to file civil suit against her rapist if she wanted to recover not only for her trauma but also for her severe physical injuries and associated economic losses. In light of that, it makes perfect sense to me that the waiter would give her his reward.

And thanks for the assumption, but I'm not rich.

[0+] Author Profile Page pepper replied to everybodyever :

I don't think his kindness is simple or sensible. He went far above and beyond what most people would do.

FWIW I don't think hfs meant to direct the "you" at you.

[0+] Author Profile Page britgal replied to everybodyever :

Actually she'd be entitled to a pay out from the government compensation authority/criminal injuries. But good that she also got this money - CICA compensation can be a bit variable.

Maybe he didn't know how old she was?

[0+] Author Profile Page secretagentx9 said:

um, how can i get ahold of him and thank him?

[0+] Author Profile Page Nelly Tay said:

Thanks for posting! Reading this gave my faith in humanity a much-needed boost.

[0+] Author Profile Page Nelly Tay said:

Thanks for posting! Reading this gave my faith in humanity a much-needed boost.

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