A boy has finally won his battle for compensation after losing both his legs when he contracted meningitis.

Ashley Cripps, who is now 10, also lost the tips of his fingers and both thumbs after he was mistakenly diagnosed as having chicken pox in November 1999.

His mum Cheryl had taken her son to see his GP who had referred him to Medway Maritime Hospital. But medics there thought he had chickenpox and sent Ashley home, telling his parents to give him Calpol.

Ashley, of Walderslade, sued Medway NHS Trust through his mother. It took almost seven years but the trust agreed at London’s High Court this week to settle the case on the basis of 90 per cent liability.

The amount of Ashley’s payout has been kept confidential but millions of pounds have been awarded in similar cases.

Mrs Cripps and her husband, Ashley’s dad Jason, are happy the battle is finally over.

“The money will provide for Ashley’s future,” she said.

See Friday's print edition of the Medway Messenger