Victims of the Put up Workplace scandal have been sharing their heartbreaking tales of being wrongly branded thieves amid mounting requires Paula Vennells at hand again her CBE.
A whole lot of former subpostmasters and subpostmistresses who have been caught up within the Horizon scandal say their lives have been destroyed by one of many UK’s largest miscarriages of justice.
One of many victims, Jess Kaur, was dropped at tears as she advised Good Morning Britain viewers she was pushed to committing suicide after being accused of ‘stealing cash’ from the department. She is but to obtain any monetary compensation.
The scandal has current nationwide consideration over current days due to Mr Bates Vs The Put up Workplace airing on ITV, resulting in greater than 1 million signing a petition calling for the previous chief govt officer at hand again her CBE.
One other two of the victims, Tracy Felstead and Janet Skinner, advised BBC Breakfast that’s Ms Vennells had any decency she hand again the award.
Jess Kaur was dropped at tears as she advised Good Morning Britain viewers she was pushed to committing suicide after being accused of ‘stealing cash’ from the department she labored in
Victims of the Put up Workplace scandal have been sharing their heartbreaking tales of being wrongly branded thieves amid mounting requires Paula Vennells at hand again her CBE
In 1999, Tracy Felstead was simply 19 years outdated when she was despatched to Holloway Jail for ‘stealing’ £11,500 from Camberwell Inexperienced put up workplace the place she labored in her first job after leaving college
Talking to Susanna Reid, Jess mentioned: ‘It drove me so mad that I attempted to commit suicide.
‘Whereas I used to be in hospital. The put up workplace did not imagine that I used to be there. They despatched their very own medical doctors they usually examined me as effectively. Not solely was i getting electrical shock remedy, i used to be additionally getting grief of them.’
Calls for for the Honours Forfeiture Committee to take away Ms Vennells’ gong have emerged once more after ITV aired the brand new drama final week.
The Horizon scandal has been described as essentially the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK historical past. Ms Vennells oversaw the organisation whereas it routinely denied there have been issues with its Horizon IT system.
Tracey, was simply 19 years outdated when she was despatched to Holloway Jail for ‘stealing’ £11,500 from Camberwell Inexperienced put up workplace, believes Ms Vennels must be held accountable.
Tracey mentioned: ”In my eyes she should not have had it within the first place.
‘Somebody must be held accountable. We have been classed as criminals by the put up workplace. Now its their flip to really be investigated and discover out who knew what, why and when this all occurred.’
Stress can be mounting on Liberal Democrat chief Sir Ed Davey over his function within the scandal, having been postal affairs minister in the course of the coalition authorities between 2010 and 2012
Janet Skinner added: ‘If she had any decency she would simply hand it again.’
Greater than 700 Put up Workplace department managers got prison convictions after defective Fujitsu accounting software program referred to as Horizon made it seem as if cash was lacking from their retailers.
Janet Skinner, 52, from Hull, has spoken of her ordeal, having been falsely accused of stealing £60,000 from the Put up Workplace she ran – ensuing within the lack of her residence and a stint in a drug-infested jail the place she was compelled to rubbed shoulders with baby killers.
The mom served three months of a nine-month sentence following a roundup of 230 former postmasters and postmistresses jailed in one of many biggest miscarriages of justice in Britain’s current historical past.
Janet, whose testimony helped type the plot of the mini-series, hopes the big-money drama will reveal the true human impression of the Horizon scandal on workers.
The previous postmistress was despatched to jail in 2007 over an alleged £59,000 shortfall at her put up workplace in Hull, earlier than she was launched three months in a while an digital tag and her conviction finally repealed in April 2021.
Janet claims the scandal has ruined her life, as she is now disabled and reliant on advantages as a consequence of her funds being crushed within the wake of the wrongful fraud accusation.
Multiple million folks have signed a petition calling for former Put up Workplace boss Paula Vennells to lose her CBE amid rising anger over the Horizon scandal
The scandal is seen as one of many UK’s largest miscarriages of justice and has gained current nationwide consideration over current days due to Mr Bates Vs The Put up Workplace airing on ITV
In 1999, Tracy Felstead was simply 19 years outdated when she was despatched to Holloway Jail for ‘stealing’ £11,500 from Camberwell Inexperienced put up workplace the place she labored in her first job after leaving college.
In 2019, Tracey advised the MailOnline she nonetheless suffers from nightmares after spending six months in jail for against the law she didn’t commit.
The ITV present, starring award-winning actor Toby Jones, highlights Alan Bates’ lengthy battle towards the Put up Workplace on behalf of staff accused of stealing from their branches, with many jailed as widespread thieves or made bankrupt.
As of at this time, no Put up Workplace govt nor Fujitsu worker has confronted prison investigation for his or her half within the fault.
Treasury minister Bim Afolami was grilled by Good Morning Britain presenters Richard Madley and Susanna Reid, questioning why the Authorities and the Put up Workplace continued to say all victims of the scandal had acquired monetary compensation.
An irate Madley requested the Tory MP: ‘The factors i you guys have gotten to cease saying that everybody has acquired compensation as a result of it’s simply not true. There are numerous former postmasters and postmisstresses who will let you know to your face that they haven’t reieved a pennt.
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