Justice Delayed: High Court Battle Reveals Deepening Crisis in Post Office Scandal

The Post Office and Fujitsu are under fire for allegedly trying to obstruct a former sub-postmaster, Lee Castleton OBE, from pursuing a £4 million damages claim related to the Horizon IT scandal. This situation has been brought to light during a preliminary hearing at the High Court, where it was revealed that the companies have been accused of escalating legal expenses and creating obstacles that make it challenging for Mr. Castleton to seek redress.

In 2007, Mr. Castleton faced a claim from the Post Office seeking to recover £25,000 alleged to be missing from his branch in Bridlington, leading to a devastating two-year legal struggle that culminated in his bankruptcy due to legal costs of around £321,000. Mr. Castleton is the first individual to legally challenge both the Post Office and Fujitsu, which is responsible for the malfunctioning software that caused financial discrepancies for numerous sub-postmasters.

During the latest court session, it was asserted that the two organizations were imposing ”hurdles” to prolong Mr. Castleton’s claim and inflate associated costs. His legal team argued that the actions of the Post Office in continuing the civil claim from 2007 were an abuse of court process, compounded by claims of fraud and the withholding of evidence. The group of sub-postmasters, including Mr. Castleton, previously won a significant case in 2019 against the Post Office, but many did not receive adequate compensation due to legal costs.

Mr. Castleton is contesting the previous settlement, asserting that it was reached under false pretenses led by the Post Office’s questionable tactics. Although both Post Office and Fujitsu have yet to officially respond to his allegations, they are advocating for the case to be divided into two trials, arguing this would be more efficient. However, Mr. Castleton’s counsel dismissed this claim, suggesting the matter was quite straightforward.

The High Court judges have decided to proceed with splitting the trials, which has opened the door for ongoing discussions about the nature of the settlement agreement in relation to Mr. Castleton’s claim. The Post Office expressed a commitment to resolving the matters quickly and ensuring fair outcomes for affected parties.

Mr. Castleton expressed hope for vindication regarding a judgment that has upended his life for two decades, videoing outside court he stated, ”We’ll get a defence and that’s what we’ve been waiting for. The facts aren’t going to change. It’s just the money.” The court’s decision is a pivotal step in what is already recognized as one of the most significant legal battles stemming from the Horizon IT scandal, which has seen numerous sub-postmasters wrongfully convicted due to defects in the system.