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Ex-Post Office victim frustrated over wait for compensation | Ex-Post Office victim frustrated over wait for compensation |
(31 minutes later) | |
Janet Skinner was wrongly jailed for theft | Janet Skinner was wrongly jailed for theft |
A former sub-postmistress wrongly jailed for theft has spoken of her frustration over the wait for compensation. | A former sub-postmistress wrongly jailed for theft has spoken of her frustration over the wait for compensation. |
Janet Skinner was handed a nine month sentence in 2007 over an alleged shortfall of £59,000 from her Post Office branch in Bransholme, Hull. | Janet Skinner was handed a nine month sentence in 2007 over an alleged shortfall of £59,000 from her Post Office branch in Bransholme, Hull. |
She was one of more than 900 sub-postmasters who were wrongly prosecuted for stealing because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer system. | |
The government said it was working "at pace" to ensure all postmasters received "the financial redress and justice they deserve". | The government said it was working "at pace" to ensure all postmasters received "the financial redress and justice they deserve". |
Ms Skinner said she had been given assurances over the compensation schemes by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when she met him almost a year ago. | |
"For quite a lot of people, nothing's changed," she told BBC Breakfast. | "For quite a lot of people, nothing's changed," she told BBC Breakfast. |
"The cases are complex and there's a lot to it. It is painstakingly hard and it's been a long battle." | "The cases are complex and there's a lot to it. It is painstakingly hard and it's been a long battle." |
Ms Skinner said she had not expected an offer quickly as her claim was submitted only last month. | |
"But there are a lot of people who have had claims through that process for quite a long time and been offered quite small amounts," she said. | "But there are a lot of people who have had claims through that process for quite a long time and been offered quite small amounts," she said. |
Claims settled 'by end of the year' | |
Ms Skinner said she wanted to be able to move on with her life, adding: "I think each and every one of us just want to be able to move forward." | Ms Skinner said she wanted to be able to move on with her life, adding: "I think each and every one of us just want to be able to move forward." |
Sir Alan Bates, the founder of the Justice For Subpostmasters Alliance, has urged victims of the Horizon scandal to take the government to court over delays in compensation. | |
In a email sent to the alliance's members, Sir Alan said a judicial review would "probably be the quickest way to ensure fairness for all". | |
He told victims: "I do know many of you who have already settled have done so out of desperation or despair or because you have been backed into a corner to accept an offer. | |
"Well, a new legal action may well be a way of having your claim reassessed once more, this time by the courts." | |
In a statement, a government spokesperson said: "We pay tribute to all the postmasters who have suffered due to the Horizon software and past behaviour of the Post Office management. | In a statement, a government spokesperson said: "We pay tribute to all the postmasters who have suffered due to the Horizon software and past behaviour of the Post Office management. |
"[We] are continuing to work at pace to ensure all postmasters receive the financial redress and justice they deserve. | |
"We have trebled the number of payments under this government and are settling claims at a faster rate than ever before to provide full and fair redress... and expected to settle all claims by the end of the year." | "We have trebled the number of payments under this government and are settling claims at a faster rate than ever before to provide full and fair redress... and expected to settle all claims by the end of the year." |
Lee Castleton is one of three former sub-postmasters being recognised for their fight for justice | Lee Castleton is one of three former sub-postmasters being recognised for their fight for justice |
Former Bridlington sub-postmaster Lee Castleton also met Sunak last April and said at the time he felt he had been "listened to". | Former Bridlington sub-postmaster Lee Castleton also met Sunak last April and said at the time he felt he had been "listened to". |
He is one of three former sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal who have been made OBEs in recognition of their fight for justice. | |
Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. | Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. |