A father from Essex who is seeking compensation after the death of his son said he feels vindicated that the authorities will review the case.

Justin Chant, 24, died of starvation when a flatmate locked him in a cupboard at the home they shared in the village of Thorpe-le-Soken near Clacton in November 2000.

His father applied to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) but was turned down earlier this year because his son had a criminal record.

Terry Chant wrote to the deputy chief executive of the board, and the authority decided to order a review.

Life sentence

Mr Chant told BBC Radio Essex that he hopes the review will show "that Justin was of good character and to clear my son's name".

He said the family had pursued the review as a matter of principle.

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

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.