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Post Office scandal: 'I don't trust anybody anymore' Postmistress: Post Office scandal 'ruined my life'
(about 2 hours later)
Lorraine Williams said she had suffered a decade of shame and humiliation A former postmistress has told the inquiry into the Post Office scandal that being falsely accused of fraud led to her marriage breaking down, leaving her homeless and suicidal.
A former postmistress has told the inquiry into the Post Office scandal that being falsely accused of fraud has had a long-lasting impact on her health. Lisa Brennan said she couldn't face going home to her husband after she was accused of stealing £3,000.
Speaking on the second day of the inquiry into the wrongful convictions of sub-postmasters and mistresses, Lorraine Williams said both her mental and physical health have suffered. "I just took the bus to my Nan's. I felt ashamed," she told the inquiry.
It was more than 10 years ago when Mrs Williams first discovered a shortfall in the accounts at the post office branch near Llangefni on Anglesey, where she was postmistress. She had worked in Huyton post office in Liverpool since leaving school at 16, and loved the job.
She tried to make up the missing £14,000 with her own money, but in the end, she was charged with fraud. She lost her job and her home as a result. But after she was accused, her colleagues were told not to speak to her, Ms Brennan said.
"I wouldn't go out. I still don't feel I'm the same person and I do get angry at times," she said. "I don't trust anybody anymore." Speaking on the second day of the inquiry into the wrongful convictions of sub-postmasters and mistresses, Ms Brennan described how she ended up sleeping on the sofa at her mother's, with her young daughter, and struggling financially.
A new IT system was to blame for the accounting error, not only at Mrs Williams' post office but at hundreds of branches across the country. She turned to drink and even tried to take an overdose.
"It was the beginning of the end of my life," she told the inquiry.
A new IT system, installed at post offices across the country, was to blame for accounting errors at hundreds of different locations.
"I wasn't the only one but that's what I was told: 'It's only you, you're the only one,'" Ms Brennan told the inquiry.
Post Office scandal ruined lives, inquiry hearsPost Office scandal ruined lives, inquiry hears
Why were hundreds of sub-postmasters prosecuted?Why were hundreds of sub-postmasters prosecuted?
Between 2000 and 2014, more than 700 sub-postmasters were accused of theft, fraud and false accounting. Between 2000 and 2014, more than 700 sub-postmasters were accused of theft, fraud and false accounting in the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history.
The inquiry - which is expected to run for the rest of this year - will look at whether the Post Office knew about faults in a newly installed IT system, called Horizon, and will also ask how staff were left to shoulder the blame. The software was developed by Japanese company Fujitsu. The inquiry - which is expected to run for the rest of this year - will look at whether the Post Office knew about faults in the IT system, called Horizon, and will also ask how staff were left to shoulder the blame. The software was developed by Japanese company Fujitsu.
Mrs Williams' daughter was only 10 years old at the time the error came to light, so she decided to plead guilty to avoid a jail-term. She told the inquiry she has suffered a decade of deep shame and humiliation. But the inquiry, led by a retired High Court judge, Sir Wyn Williams, is beginning with six weeks of testimony from former Post Office staff, describing the devastating impact the false accusations have had on them and their families.
'Too scared' Lorraine Williams told the inquiry both her mental and physical health suffered after she was charged with fraud over a £14,000 shortfall in the accounts at the post office branch near Llangefni on Anglesey.
Mrs Williams is one of 72 of the wrongly accused who had their convictions quashed in April. Mrs Williams said she had received an interim compensation payment but felt "too scared" to spend it in case the Post Office asked for it back. "I wouldn't go out," she said. "I still don't feel I'm the same person and I do get angry at times. I don't trust anybody anymore."
The inquiry is being led by the retired High Court judge, Sir Wyn Williams, currently conducting proceedings remotely from his home in south Wales. Lorraine Williams said she had suffered a decade of shame and humiliation
Over the next six weeks, the inquiry will hear how it felt for many of the hundreds of former Post Office staff who were falsely accused in the most widespread miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Mrs Williams' daughter was only 10 years old at the time, so she decided to plead guilty to avoid a jail-term.
Janine Powell was accused of stealing a much larger sum, over £70,000 from the Cowleymoor Post Office, in Tiverton, Devon.
She refused to plead guilty for something she hadn't done, and was sentenced to eighteen months in prison and served six, with a further six months wearing a tag.
Her children were picked on, her daughter self-harmed, and her relationship with her sons was affected.
"We're not as close as we were," she told the inquiry through tears. "I wasn't there for them."
This inquiry is already shifting the balance of power in this scandal - by giving victims the floor first.This inquiry is already shifting the balance of power in this scandal - by giving victims the floor first.
After decades of being accused, shamed, disbelieved and ignored, their heart-breaking stories are now front and centre.After decades of being accused, shamed, disbelieved and ignored, their heart-breaking stories are now front and centre.
But more than that, they have also now very publicly been able to point the finger back at their accusers.But more than that, they have also now very publicly been able to point the finger back at their accusers.
"It's the Post Office who need to be in the dock." "Someone needs to go to jail just like I did." "It was a culture and goes all the way to the top." These are the sentences that many of the witnesses are echoing."It's the Post Office who need to be in the dock." "Someone needs to go to jail just like I did." "It was a culture and goes all the way to the top." These are the sentences that many of the witnesses are echoing.
Senior members of the Post Office and software owner Fujitsu will be asked to speak to this inquiry in the months ahead, and they will have many questions to answer.Senior members of the Post Office and software owner Fujitsu will be asked to speak to this inquiry in the months ahead, and they will have many questions to answer.
But for the witness I've spoken to, being able to give evidence here - and to have their voices heard by those in authority - has already given them a sense of fairness and empowerment which was denied to them for so long.But for the witness I've spoken to, being able to give evidence here - and to have their voices heard by those in authority - has already given them a sense of fairness and empowerment which was denied to them for so long.
The second witness to give his evidence on the second day of the inquiry was Damian Owen, who managed a branch in Bangor. Damian Owen, who managed a branch in Bangor, said he had still not been able to tell his 11-year-old daughter what happened.
Reliving his experiences was clearly painful for Mr Owen, who said he had still not been able to tell his 11-year-old daughter what happened. His relationship with his brother had completely broken down some years ago, he added. His relationship with his brother had completely broken down some years ago, he added.
Mr Owen's previous connection with the Post Office was strong. His mother had ran branches in Wales since he was a teenager, and he'd worked in the shop and as a paperboy.Mr Owen's previous connection with the Post Office was strong. His mother had ran branches in Wales since he was a teenager, and he'd worked in the shop and as a paperboy.
Last year 72 sub-postmasters had their convictions overturnedLast year 72 sub-postmasters had their convictions overturned
Mr Owen was accused of stealing just under £25,000 - just two weeks after the new Horizon system was installed.Mr Owen was accused of stealing just under £25,000 - just two weeks after the new Horizon system was installed.
The accusation seemed ridiculous to Mr Owen, who said that the branch was quiet.The accusation seemed ridiculous to Mr Owen, who said that the branch was quiet.
"There wasn't a massive cash holding. The most we had ever was £13,000," he explained."There wasn't a massive cash holding. The most we had ever was £13,000," he explained.
He was told by his first legal team there was "no hope" of being found not guilty and was advised to "just take four or five years on the chin".He was told by his first legal team there was "no hope" of being found not guilty and was advised to "just take four or five years on the chin".
Mr Owen was sentence to eight months in prison just before Christmas.Mr Owen was sentence to eight months in prison just before Christmas.
"It wasn't good. I was in there 10 weeks and I lost over four stone," he said."It wasn't good. I was in there 10 weeks and I lost over four stone," he said.
'I want someone else jailed like I was''I want someone else jailed like I was'
Listen: The Great Post Office TrialListen: The Great Post Office Trial
His daughter, who is now 11, was less than a year old when he was put behind bars.
But it was the reputational damage that has taken the greatest toll on his well-being. Local newspapers ran damaging accounts of his guilt at the time, and Mr Owen felt he needed to move away.But it was the reputational damage that has taken the greatest toll on his well-being. Local newspapers ran damaging accounts of his guilt at the time, and Mr Owen felt he needed to move away.
He's had to take menial jobs despite being well-educated. "Who is going to employ someone with a criminal record?" he asked the inquiry.He's had to take menial jobs despite being well-educated. "Who is going to employ someone with a criminal record?" he asked the inquiry.
Damian Owen spent ten weeks in jail after being wrongly convictedDamian Owen spent ten weeks in jail after being wrongly convicted
Mr Owen, doesn't feel the compensation he has received so far is adequate.Mr Owen, doesn't feel the compensation he has received so far is adequate.
"I want some decent money and a decent apology," he told the inquiry."I want some decent money and a decent apology," he told the inquiry.
Holding up a letter from the Post Office, he said: "It is the most feeble apology I've received for anything in my life."Holding up a letter from the Post Office, he said: "It is the most feeble apology I've received for anything in my life."
The Post Office has said it is "sincerely sorry for the impact of the Horizon scandal on the lives of victims and their families and we are in no doubt about the human cost."The Post Office has said it is "sincerely sorry for the impact of the Horizon scandal on the lives of victims and their families and we are in no doubt about the human cost."
"In addressing the past, our first priority is that full, fair and final compensation is provided and we are making good progress," the spokesperson added."In addressing the past, our first priority is that full, fair and final compensation is provided and we are making good progress," the spokesperson added.