Horizon scandal: Victim sues Post Office and Fujitsu

FORMER sub-postmaster Lee Castleton has launched legal action against the Post Office and Fujitsu, becoming the first individual Horizon IT scandal victim to sue the two organisations.

According to recent reports, Castleton has instructed his solicitors, Simons Muirhead Burton, to issue proceedings at the High Court against the Post Office and Fujitsu on his behalf. Castleton is seeking compensation, alleging the civil judgement against him was obtained by fraud.

"I want justice and to be publicly vindicated," Castleton told the BBC.

Castleton is one of the victims of Post Office Horizon scandal in which hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongfully convicted after faulty software said money was missing from their branch accounts.

While other victims have seen their convictions overturned, Castleton's civil judgement against him still stands. His legal action is to set aside, or overturn, the judgement.

"I'd like to effectively have my day in court as well," said Castleton who is due to receive his OBE next month.

In 2007, Castleton lost a two-year legal battle against the Post Office after it sued him to recover £25,000 of cash it alleged was missing from his branch in Bridlington in East Yorkshire.

When his legal insurance ran out, Castleton had to represent himself in court and was landed with a bill of £321,000 in legal costs which he couldn't pay and declared bankruptcy.

"We now know from the Post Office Inquiry that they wanted to make an example of me," he said.

His lawyer Simon Goldberg stated that Lee had faced a "David versus Goliath battle" against the Post Office and is now fully ready to take this all the way to trial.

Last year during the inquiry, Stephen Dilley, who represented the Post Office in the civil claim against Castleton, admitted that in Castleton's case, Post Office wanted to “show the world” how it would defend the Horizon system.

A witness from Fujitsu also gave evidence in his case.

"What we're effectively going to be saying is that the claim against his was an abuse of process. It was never about recovery of the sum of money - it was to make an example of Mr Castleton" said Goldberg.

"We also believe the judgement was obtained by fraud in that the Post Office and Fujitsu knew perfectly well that the Horizon system wasn't working properly," he added.

Last year during public inquiry, former Post Office boss Paula Vennells extended an apology to Castleton, saying the business’ treatment of Castleton was “unforgivable”.

She also claimed that she was not being given the information and documents she needed to find out the truth about the Horizon IT system.

Castleton, however, slammed her and dismissed her apology.

“Do I believe that Paula Vennells really feels now that what happened to me was ‘unforgivable’? I don't know. That’s her own personal opinion on what she feels is the right or wrong thing to do," said Castleton.

“Paula Vennells has lived her life and did whatever she had to do. I just want to get on with my life and move on forward. The lack of truth, the lack of openness and the lack of candidness is slowing everything down.

"I think the judiciary needs to make up their minds and decide whether there's anything that they need to take further. Accountability is something that we all are hoping for,” he said.