Taylor Rose secures £2 million settlement for sub-postmaster wrongly accused in Post Office Horizon scandal

A sub-postmaster who was wrongly accused of stealing £89,000 from the Post Office branch he ran with his family has secured a £2 million compensation settlement, following a 10-year fight to clear his name.

Taylor Rose's Dispute Resolution team represented the client, whose ordeal began in 2015 after the Post Office's Horizon IT system reported a shortfall in his branch accounts. He was suspended, investigated by Post Office auditors, arrested, and held in police custody, despite having taken no money. He was later told to repay the alleged shortfall, with the debt rising to over £100,000 once interest was added.

The financial and personal toll was severe. Our client lost a second job due to the stress of the investigation, fell into mortgage arrears, and relied on borrowing from friends and family simply to get by.

It was only after joining Sir Alan Bates' Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance that he found the support to begin challenging what had happened to him. As the wider Horizon scandal came to light and the Government opened a compensation scheme, he was initially offered a fixed settlement of £75,000.

Taylor Rose advised against accepting this figure. Working with forensic accountants, Moore Kingston Smith, to fully evidence the true scale of his losses, the team secured a final settlement of £2 million, which was significantly higher than the initial offer.

Meta Panchamia, Director of Dispute Resolution & Head of Group Litigation said: "This case shows that the fixed compensation figure does not reflect the true scale of loss suffered by many sub-postmasters. The outcome is a small comfort compared to the years our client endured, but it shows what can be achieved when claims are properly evidenced and pursued. We believe many others are entitled to significantly more than they've been offered, and we'd strongly encourage them to come forward."

Background to the Horizon scandal

Between 1999 and 2015, more than 900 sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted after faults in the Post Office's Horizon accounting system incorrectly indicated shortfalls in branch takings. Many more used their own savings to cover apparent discrepancies to avoid prosecution. The scandal has had a devastating impact on those affected, contributing to broken marriages, financial ruin, and serious health consequences for many families.

A criminal investigation into the scandal is ongoing, though it has been reported that further funding may be required to avoid significant delays to potential prosecutions

If you were affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal and are unsure whether your settlement reflects the true extent of your losses, our Civil Litigation team can help. Get in touch with Taylor Rose today to discuss your case.