Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

First six postmasters get their Horizon convictions quashed

Six former postmasters were formally acquitted following a referral by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) in cases related to the Horizon IT scandal at Post Office.

Post Office, as announced in October, didn’t contest the appeals of Julie Cleife, Christopher Trousdale, Susan Rudkin, Vipinchandra Patel, Kamran Ashraf and Jasvinder Barang at Southwark Crown Court on 11 December.


They were prosecuted by Post Office between 2003-2013 for false accounting, fraud and false representation at magistrate’s courts.

"The past nine years have been hellish and a total nightmare, but today I feel I can start living again. I can look forward and focus on enjoying life," Vipinchandra Patel, who has been sentenced to 18 weeks in prison in June 2011, told BBC.

"I feel euphoric as I have finally been vindicated. This conviction has been a cloud over my life for almost 10 years."

The CCRC has earlier this year decided to refer the convictions of 47 postmasters for appeal following the High Court verdict on the Horizon IT system used by the Post Office, which went in favour of postmasters.

Post Office decided to not oppose 44 of these appeals. It contests the CCRC referral in three cases.

Commenting on the overturned convictions, a Post Office spokesman said it did not oppose these appeals and "sincerely apologises for historical failings".

“We have taken determined action to address the past, ensuring there is redress for those affected and to prevent such events ever happening again. Fundamental reforms have been made to forge a new relationship with postmasters, helping them to build thriving Post Office businesses for customers and communities throughout the UK,” the spokesman added.

Post Office has taken several measures to ‘reset its relationship’ with postmasters following the settlement of long-running Horizon trial in December 2019.

These included the creation of new non-executive director position in its board for a serving postmaster, a scheme for current and former sub-postmasters to claim shortfalls related to previous versions of the scandal-hit computer system Horizon.

More for you

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now, with Mandy House positioned second from right

Volumatic employees ‘Wear It Pink’ to support Breast Cancer Now

Employees from cash handling experts Volumatic have taken part in a special "Wear It Pink" day to raise money for cancer charity, Breast Cancer Now.

Around 40 staff members based at Volumatic’s Head Office in Coventry donned something pink – from socks, scarves and wigs to full head-to-toe outfits in pink, to raise funds for a charity very close to their hearts.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre
Bira CEO Andrew Goodacre

'Devastating and out of touch' – indies react to Budget bombshell

Following the initial response condemning the Budget as 'the most damaging for independent retailers in recent memory' from the British Independent Retailers Association (Bira), members have shared their stark reactions to the triple burden of doubled business rates, increased National Insurance, and higher minimum wage costs.

Multiple retailers have calculated specific impacts on their businesses, with costs ranging from £90,000 to £150,000 per year.

"This budget was horrendous for us as a company. Estimated costs to be around £110,000 - £120,000 per year," said Andrew Massey of Masseys DIY in Swadlincote, Derbyshire.

Keep ReadingShow less
Brocks at Rockwell Green store

Brocks at Rockwell Green store

Christie & Co

'Popular' Somerset store on the market as long-term owners retire


Brocks at Rockwell Green, a Premier-branded convenience store near Wellington, Somerset is on the market as owners Simon and Rachel Brock are now looking to retire - after running the store for nearly 25 years.

Keep ReadingShow less
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney

Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds announced as new co-owners of Wrexham Lager

Wrexham Lager Beer Co Ltd, the oldest lager brewery still existing in Britain that has been brewing in Wales since 1882, has announced Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds as new co-owners of the company alongside the Roberts family.

The acquisition was made by Red Dragon Ventures, a joint venture formed by The R.R. McReynolds Company, majority owner of Wrexham AFC, and the Allyn family of Skaneateles, New York. Red Dragon Ventures was created to drive growth in the Wrexham community and Wrexham AFC.

Keep ReadingShow less
Solar and wind power
iStock

Leading beverage brands join forces to accelerate renewable energy adoption

Ten global beverage companies have joined forces under a new industry-wide consortium, called REfresh Alliance, which is designed to help accelerate renewable energy adoption across the industry’s supply chain.

The new initiative invites additional companies from across the beverage industry to pool and scale their resources to remove barriers to renewable energy adoption in the supply chain, provide education on best market practices and support the industry’s transition to Net Zero.

Keep ReadingShow less