Hundreds of sex abuse victims have had their compensation payments reduced after committing crime themselves, according to new figures.
A total of 12,665 people who suffered abuse as children or vulnerable adults had been awarded compensation by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), an executive agency sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, since 2010.
But data obtained by the BBC under Freedom of Information laws showed 438 had their government-funded payouts docked over the same period.
The broadcaster said that in the year to June 2015, half of the 27 people who had payments reduced had convictions for drink, drug, theft or property offences, while eight were prosecuted for violence.
Cica can refuse or reduce compensation in light of a person's criminal record or unspent convictions using a points-based system, under the Criminal Injuries Compensation scheme.
In its guidance on its website it says: "We may refuse or reduce a payment if you have a criminal record, even though you may have been blameless in the incident which resulted in your injury.
"Annex D of the Scheme says that we must take account of your unspent criminal convictions at the date of application and before we make a final decision."
The average payout after a reduction was £8,423, the broadcaster said.
Odette Tovey, a lawyer who has represented grooming victims, told the BBC Cica should take abuse-related "mental health problems" into account.