A student beaten senseless by police has been awarded £500,000 compensation six years after the attack.

John Wilson, now 22, was caught up in riots when trouble flared in London's Trafalgar Square following England's defeat by Germany during the Euro '96 tournament.

He was knocked unconscious and five days later began having epileptic fits.

He dropped out of his A-level studies at a Sussex public school and has since been unable to keep a job.

A High Court judge last year ruled Mr Wilson had been the victim of a "deliberate and unlawful assault" by the Metropolitan Police.

But the Met has insisted it is unable to pinpoint the 26 officers involved, despite the assault being captured on CCTV footage, and no individuals have ever been held to account.

Yesterday's payout came after Mr Wilson's family took legal action against the force, which has refused to admit liability for the attack.

He received an apology earlier this year from Deputy Commisioner Ian Blair.

Mr Wilson, of Lemmington Way, Horsham, is unlikely to ever work again.

His mother Susan Wilson said: "I suppose we are pleased it is over but it has shown how useless the system is.

"They still can't identify the officers. People ought to know the Commissioner is accountable to no one, not Tony Blair, not David Blunkett, not anyone.

"We're just trying to absorb what has happened. It has been a long hard fight and it is going to take months to sort things out.

"John has not been working. It is going to be very hard for him. There has got to be accountability and there has been none."

Mr Wilson had been watching the England v Germany game in a pub before being caught up in the violence.

He was standing beside a blazing police car when he was struck from behind.

Solicitor James Bell said: "John is satisfied with the result. He is disappointed the officer who did this has never been found."

A spokeswoman for the Met said: "In February 2002 the Court of Appeal ruled the collision between John Wilson and the police amounted to an assault in law.

"The court also stated it was unlikely the officer concerned intended any injury.

"In light of these findings, Commissioner John Stevens made an offer of compensation, which was accepted."