A woman who contracted AIDS from her married boyfriend has been awarded the maximum of $70,000 in compensation.

According to the latest report from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, the 45-year-old AIDS victim received "special damages for pain and suffering''. The actual amount totalled $68,000 after deductions for legal fees.

And a trio of youngsters sexually abused by relatives or babysitters won close-to-maximum awards.

The female AIDS victim -- who cannot be named for legal reasons -- was diagnosed positive for HIV and hepatitis B after becoming ill with flu-like symptoms and jaundice in 1994.

The report also revealed that more than $650,000 was given in compensation in the last year alone.

A 17-year-old boy received $68,490 after being subjected to a six-year ordeal of sex abuse by a babysitter.

The 1993 cash award included $40,000 for pain and suffering and more than $24,700 for education at a boarding school overseas.

And a ten-year-old girl, who suffered a two-year ordeal of sex abuse by her own father starting when she was just seven years old, was awarded more than $65,000 to compensate her for her nightmare experience.

The abuse only came to light after the girl was examined by a doctor who found evidence of forced sex.

Part of the 1995 award was to pay for the tortured child's attendance at a special school offering treatment to sexually-abused children in Florida.

Another child -- a nine-year-old girl -- was last year awarded $45,500 after she contracted sexually transmitted diseases following a rape by her grandmother's boyfriend.

The youngster was tested positive for gonorrhoea and herpes after her horror experience.

Henry Santucci, 36, who suffered serious burns to 90 percent of his face after he had acid thrown at him was awarded a total of nearly $44,000.

Mr. Santucci's 1995 award included a $20,000 sum for pain and suffering, which left him permanently scarred.

And a four-year-old girl received more than $15,000 after she was sexually assaulted by a vagrant as she played near Hamilton's Ex-Artillery Club.

A man shot while trying to nab an armed robber after a 1996 robbery at Devonshire's Lindo's Supermarket won more than $12,000.

Eugene Eversley, 37, suffered a bullet wound to the arm, but no long-term physical damage.

And former Warwick Secondary teacher Victor Coggin won more than $28,000 in compensation after he was beaten unconscious by two pupils -- one already suspended -- during lunch-time duties at Warwick Secondary.

Two visitors assaulted during visits to Bermuda were also compensated by the Board with awards totalling more than $50,000.

Police officers receive $24,000 in compensation for injuries: Page 3