A victim of child sex abuse denied compensation by a Government agency because it said he "consented" has now received an apology.

The young man, who was abused from the age of 13, was told by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority that he would not receive any money because he had not been the victim of a crime.

He was groomed online and abused by 23 men, 21 of whom have been convicted of offences including sexual activity with a child, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity and meeting a child after sexual grooming.

His family's appeal for compensation was rejected and an appeal was due to be heard later this month.

But the agency has now revised its position just days ahead of the planned appeal.

The young man, who cannot be named, had already prepared to give evidence in order to prove he was a victim.

Liberty, who was supporting the case, said CICA’s CEO Carole Oatway wrote to him apologising for the way his case was handled.

The letter said: “I am firmly of the view that you are eligible for compensation. It is clear that advantage was taken of your age and vulnerability for the purpose of sexual abuse.”