A YOUNG Haslemere man, who has received £4.75 million - the biggest pay-out ever to a victim of crime - has spoken to The Herald this week of his ambitions for the future.

Courageous Omar Dadi (18) was left almost totally paralysed when he was chased into the path of a car by a gang of youths, in Wandsworth, South London, when just eight years old in 1991. He is said to have reported them for shoplifting.

The catastrophic injuries, which almost destroyed his life, left him virtually unable to move apart from retaining some use of his left hand. He can only communicate and breathe using a hi-tech stimulating machine and has to spend much of his time on a ventilator.

Omar, who is a patient at Holy Cross Hospital in Vicarage Lane, Haslemere, said the day after the record criminal injuries compensation award was made that the money will enable him to "live a more independent life".

Grinning from ear to ear, the indomitable, self-assured teenager could hardly contain his delight and said the award was a "victory" for people like him.

Still getting used to seeing his picture splashed across the pages of Thursday's newspapers and on TV, Omar admitted: "I don't think I have taken it in yet - it's a bit of a shock".

Although he said the award was expected -"we have been waiting 10 years for this"- he said he was "thrilled to bits".

"I want to take control of my own life. Holy Cross is a good place but when you are 18 you want to be surrounded by people of your own age.

"You just can't get up in the morning and say, 'I want to go to the shops'. I want to be able to visit the cinema and go bowling and go out with my friends when I like."

Omar is also a big fan of rap and blues music and an ardent Manchester United supporter.

"I've been to loads of concerts with friends but don't go so often now," he said.

Despite all the difficulties, Omar has fought to make the most of his life and is studying for a GVNQ in information technology. He has GCSE passes in maths and English and hopes one day to get a degree and work in the the computer business, possibly in graphics.

A self-confessed computer buff, Omar told The Herald he enjoyed playing games on his computer which has proved to be a boon.

"Learning takes a lot longer for me than for the average person, it's tough going and you have to be self-disciplined," said a very determined Omar.

He said computers had made a "huge difference" to his life.

He said: "Friends are always nagging me to reply to their emails."

Omar expects next year to be "very hectic" as he starts to re-organise his life, finding a home of his own with his own care staff.

"I can now start living again," said Omar who has lived in at least four hospitals and institutions since the incident. "I get very frustrated because of all the red tape but a lot of people are on my side to help me and want it as much as I do."

Omar's award has highlighted the plight of crime victims who have been injured since a major change in the criminal injuries compensation rules in 1996.

Since then, payouts have been geared to a strict set of "tariffs" for particular injuries, and had Omar applied after 1996, his compensation would have been capped at a maximum of half-a-million pounds.

That could have meant that he would have had to stay in a hospital or institution for the rest of his life. Omar said the revised ruling was "appalling".

"It is ridiculous, it sounds like a lot of money but it wouldn't get you very far; it would maybe pay for special carers for a couple of years and then the money would be gone."

Omar said he was "desperate" to move out into the community. But before he does he says he'll be treating himself to a Play Station Two computer games console as a special Christmas present to himself.

The administrator for Holy Cross Hospital Chris Hinton said he was "absolutely delighted" for Omar.

"We will be looking forward to working with him to achieve the independent lifestyle he wants. Holy Cross is wholly committed to supporting all its disabled residents to achieve the maximum independence whether remaining as a resident of Holy Cross or moving into the community care setting."