A 23-year-old student who was catastrophically injured when he was struck down by a van has won a £4.8m compensation deal which means he can return to his Steep home.

Peter Hines was just 20 years old when he was hit by the van as he enjoyed a night out with friends on Bognor Regis Esplanade in September 2000.

In a coma, on the edge of death for three months, PeterÕs hopes of a career in the dramatic arts were shattered and he will now need intensive care for the rest of his life.

He is currently cared for

at the Queen Elizabeth Foundation Brain Injury Centre in Banstead. But his counsel, Alan Smith, told judge Mr Justice Holland at the High Court in London last week, that the money would enable Peter to return home to his devoted parents Trevor and Barbara.

He will live at the family home in Steep while his rehabilitation continues and it is then hoped he will be able to move into a specially adapted bungalow of his own where he will receive round-the-clock care and support.

The driver of the van, William McGahey, was driving his employersÕ vehicle without authority at the time and was not insured, Mr Smith told the court.

But his employersÕ insurers, the Zurich, last week agreed to a compensation package for Peter which would guarantee he received the care he needed for the rest of his life.

On top of a £1.25m contingency fund, Peter will receive a £90,000 annual income for the rest of his life. Mr Smith said the deal had been valued at a total of around £4.8m

Approving the settlement Mr Justice Holland said: ÒI do hope that this is the start of a new chapter in PeterÕs life. He has been well advised.Ó

PeterÕs father, Trevor, who is a property manager said later that he and his wife, who works for an armed forces charity, had forgiven Mr McGahey, although he would have to live with the knowledge of the tragedy he had caused.

He said Peter had, before the accident, been a fun-loving and out-going youngster on the verge of starting a course in theatre management and drama at college. Now he was in a wheelchair and could not communicate fully.

Peter, he added, had been thrown 30 feet in the air by the impact. His life was in the balance for three months whilst he was in a coma.

Mr Hines, who has another son Simon, aged 25, said: ÒPeter has now regained consciousness but will never be the boy he was. He will need specialist accommodation and care for the rest of his life.Ó

He paid tribute to his legal team in achieving the ÒoutstandingÓ deal but said he would still have to Òfind a million poundsÓ of his own to meet the shortfall in the enormous costs of PeterÕs care which experts had put at £5.7m over his lifetime.