A husband paralysed in a car crash has received £750,000 compensation after suing his wife.

Kenneth Baxter, represented in court by Cherie Booth QC, wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair, was left confined to a wheelchair after a two-car accident in January 1995.

He had been a passenger in the car while his wife, Gillian, 56, was at the wheel when the crash happened in Northamp- tonshire.

After the smash, Mr Baxter, who is in his seventies and lives in West Oxfordshire, sued his wife for damages. The case at Oxford County Court had been due to last three days but was settled out of court with Mrs Baxter's insurance company, Royal and Sun Alliance, paying compensation to the retired company executive.

Mrs Baxter's insurance company had admitted liability. The couple are said to be on amicable terms and Mrs Baxter had nursed her husband during his recovery. Solicitor Jeremy Irwin-Singer, of Oxford-based solicitors Linnells, who represented Mr Baxter, said: "When a relation is responsible for a road accident, it's very common that the injured relation will sue the negligent relation because it's the insurance company that pays compensation.

"Mr Baxter's substantial compensation properly reflects his past and future caring requirements. He needs 24-hour care."Mrs Baxter could inherit some of the cash, if any of it remained unspent in the event of her husband's death and the money had been left to her.

The couple declined to comment on the case.

The Baxters' Fiesta collided with a Toyota Celica on the A45 near Daventry. Police said it appeared the two vehicles collided side-on. The Celica driver, from Leamington Spa, suffered whiplash. Ian Tenquist, of solicitors Morgan Cole which represented the insurance company on behalf of Mrs Baxter, said: "Mrs Baxter is his main carer and has been extremely supportive. It was an extremely tragic case. Royal and Sun Alliance were delighted to have the opportunity to provide sufficient funds to provide for Mr Baxter for the rest of his life."

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