I was involved in a car crash 7 yrs ago. My nephew was driving the car his mum and his friend were in the car. A man went into us and admitted it was his fault he exchange insurance details with my nephew. We had whiplash and put claim in and I think the car was written off. It was so long ago I can't remember much. Anyway it went to court and my nephew won the case. Then there were problems. Something about the driver at fault wasn't insured. Then he had gon missing. We all then had to go and see some barrister who advised us to drop the case. It all got too complicated. So we just dropped it. We have been sent letters over the yrs asking for court costs for the defendants solicitors I think they said £17.000 between us all. We can't believe it as he was the one at fault. Can they do this and after so long

As YOU won the case the defendant's representation has NO rights to ask you for costs at all.
In fact you would have nothing to pay as all costs should be part of the judgement against the other party.
It is up to the defendants solicitors to get their costs from them, not you.