Aberavon pier fall: Kirsty Williams-Henry's claim dismissed

Kirsty Williams-Henry sued Associated British Ports Holdings Ltd after she fell off Aberavon Pier

A woman who suffered brain damage after falling off a pier has failed in a £600,000 compensation bid after a judge branded her a "regular liar".

Kirsty Williams-Henry, 33, from Port Talbot, suffered multiple injuries in a fall from Aberavon pier in 2018.

She sued owner Associated British Ports Holdings Ltd for damages.

High Court judge Justice Ritchie dismissed the claim, saying both she and her mum Christel Williams, had been thoroughly dishonest.

He added that the pair sought to mislead clinicians, experts and the court about Ms Williams-Henry's health, functioning, activities of daily living and her work abilities.

Ms Williams-Henry had been drinking when she visited the pier with her family after reports that bioluminescent plankton had been spotted in the sea.

While returning to the shore, she fell 4-5m (13-16ft) on to rocks and sand, with no safety barriers along the pier.

Mr Ritchie said she suffered a "moderately severe" brain injury, as well as skull and bone fractures, as well as depression, anxiety and mild post-traumatic stress disorder after spending eight days in intensive care.

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Around the time of the incident, her family set up a JustGiving page to help raise money to buy her a new wig after she had surgery.

She took legal action against the company in 2021, claiming more than £2.3m in damages, with liability settled two-thirds in her favour.

The firm said that, while it believed she was only entitled to about £370,000, her claim should be dismissed as she had been dishonest about the extent of her injuries and how they affected her.

In a trial held over 11 days in Cardiff last month, Ms Williams-Henry said she had not received proper rehabilitation since the incident and had "good days and bad days" as a result of her injuries.

She also denied ever lying, with her mum claiming her daughter had "no life" due to her conditions.

But Mr Justice Ritchie said, "overall", he found Ms Williams-Henry was "dishonest and manipulative" and had lied in insurance and benefits forms, despite working for the insurance firm Admiral until last year.

He said she made "substantial exaggerations and some lies" to both the court and medical experts and some of her evidence was "some of the least impressive that I have ever heard".