Two who served time in prison among ten postmasters set to get their convictions overturned

Post Office on Wednesday (30 June) said it will not be opposing appeals from 10 more postmasters in the Court of Appeal in the Horizon cases.

However, the firm added that it will contest another 15 appeals “following careful consideration of each case” by its board.

Hudgell Solicitors, which represents the postmasters, said the postmasters who are set to get the their convictions overturned include two who served time in prison.

The firm added that Post Office has asked for more evidence to be presented in support of appeals in a further three cases.

Neil Hudgell, who leads the firm’s representation team on the Horizon appeal cases, said: “We are obviously very pleased on behalf of the 10 further clients whose names are now set to be cleared at the Court of Appeal.

“These are all people with very similar stories to those who have already quite rightly had their convictions quashed, and again includes some people who spent time in prison as a result of these wrongful convictions.”

Hudgell said they will now review the Post Office response in the contested cases.

“Each case is specific and needs to be reviewed carefully, which is something our full legal team will be doing over the coming days,” he said.

The cases, referred by the Criminal Cases Review Commission, relate to the Post Office prosecutions between 2002 and 2012 in relation to the accounting errors in the Horizon IT system, versions of which the High Court was found as “not robust” in the group litigation against the Post Office’s accusations of stealing by postmasters.

Earlier in April, the Court of Appeal has quashed 39 convictions related to the scandal. Eight convictions have also been overturned by Southwark Crown Court in unopposed appeals.