A witness promised anonymity in the Rhys Jones murder case has won £80,000 compensation after Merseyside Police revealed his identity.
The businessman risked his life to give crucial information to detectives about 11 year old Rhys's killer on the understanding that he would never be identified.
The witness provided highly sensitive information to police in the days after Rhys's murder.
Merseyside Police had agreed that identifying the man would put his life in danger, however his name was revealed in documents handed to defence lawyers.
The source, who is described as a respected professional with no links to crime, was forced to move after gang members made him a target and followed him home.
It is claimed that he has not worked since and is receiving treatment for post traumatic stress disorder.
Although Merseyside Police immediately owned up to the mistake, they didn't refer it to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
They then went on to fight a four year battle to contest the payment of compensation, before agreeing on a settlement of £80,000.
Evertonian Rhys was walking home across The Fir Tree pub car park when he was shot in the back by Sean Mercer, who was just 16 at the time.
Despite the killer's name appearing on internet sites and in grafitti, as well as being openly spoken out in the area, police continued with their appeal for witnesses to come forward.
Mercer was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment after a 9 week trial on 16th December 2008. Six other gang members were also jailed.
A spokeswoman from Merseyside Police said: "We cannot comment on individual cases of this nature due to legal reasons.
"Merseyside Police remains committed to treating information from members of the public, who wish to remain anonymous, in the strictest confidence."
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