Justin Chant starved to death in a cupboard

The emaciated corpse of 24-year-old Justin Chant was found in a flat in Essex.

He died of starvation when a flatmate barricaded him in a cupboard at the home they shared in the village of Thorpe-le-Soken near Clacton in November 2000.

Steven Sullivan, 40, was given a life sentence for Mr Chant's murder and an additional 18-year sentence for false imprisonment in December last year.

Earlier this year Mr Chant's parents were told by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority they would be unable to claim compensation because their son had criminal convictions.

They say he was forced to commit crime by the man who eventually murdered him.

Now Mr and Mrs Chant have been told they can apply for compensation.

There will be a hearing in London next month.

The CICA compensation scheme is designed to offer benefits to survivors of criminal acts and relatives of those who have died as a result of a crime of violence. It covers items such as funeral expenses.