Latest news with #NeilHudgell
BBC News
18-07-2025
- BBC News
Canterbury sub-postmistress conviction referred to appeal court
The first criminal conviction linked to the Post Office Capture system has been referred to the Court of case of Patricia Owen, who was found guilty of five counts of theft in June 1998, has been referred on the grounds that it was an abuse of process, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) Owen was convicted of theft from the Broad Oak Post Office branch in Sweechgate, near Canterbury, over a shortfall of £6, former sub-postmistress used the Capture system, a precursor to the Horizon software, which has been responsible for almost 1,000 wrongful convictions. She received a sentence of six months' imprisonment, suspended for two case is to be sent to the Court of Appeal posthumously following an application by Ms Owen's family after her death in 2003. 'Landmark moment' The CCRC said in March that it was examining 27 cases to determine whether the Capture accounting software played a part in independent report into Capture was commissioned last year after subpostmasters said they had suffered similar problems to those faced by the Horizon CCRC said it has sent more than 70 cases associated with the Post Office Horizon scandal to the appeal courts. Solicitor Neil Hudgell said the referral was a "hugely positive step"."This is another landmark moment in the continuing campaign to ensure all those who were wrongly prosecuted at the hands of the Post Office have their names cleared," he said."Those who were affected by Capture have suffered the longest of all." In a statement, the Department for Business and Trade said: "We recognise that postmasters have endured immeasurable suffering, and we are working closely with those affected by Capture software to create a new redress scheme."Ensuring postmasters are treated with dignity and respect is our absolute priority, and we will continue to listen to those who have been sharing their stories and work with the CCRC to support them with their review of the Capture system."
Western Telegraph
18-07-2025
- Western Telegraph
First criminal conviction linked to Capture referred to Court of Appeal
The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) said the case of Patricia Owen, who was found guilty of five counts of theft in June 1998, has been referred on the grounds that it was an abuse of process. Mrs Owen pleaded not guilty to all five charges after the Broad Oak Post Office branch in Sweechgate, Canterbury, was left with a shortfall of £6,000. Those who were affected by Capture have suffered the longest of all Solicitor Neil Hudgell She received a sentence of six months' imprisonment, suspended for two years. The case is being sent to the Court of Appeal posthumously following an application by Mrs Owen's family after she died in 2003. Mrs Owen's legal team stood down an independent IT specialist on the day of her trial despite Adrian Montagu's report concluding that 'bugs and errors existed in sufficiently significant numbers and seriousness' and that any evidence relying on the system 'must be regarded as very unsafe'. The CCRC said in March that it was examining 27 cases to determine whether the Capture accounting software played a part in convictions. The Capture system pre-dated the now infamous Horizon software – which has been responsible for almost 1,000 wrongful convictions. An independent report into Capture was commissioned last year after subpostmasters said they had suffered similar problems to those faced by the Horizon victims. The CCRC said it has sent more than 70 cases associated with the Post Office Horizon scandal to the appeal courts. Solicitor Neil Hudgell, whose firm Hudgell Solicitors represents more than 100 people affected by the Capture system, said the referral is a 'hugely positive step'. Why compelling IT evidence was not used in court remains a mystery Solicitor Neil Hudgell He said: 'This is another landmark moment in the continuing campaign to ensure all those who were wrongly prosecuted at the hands of the Post Office have their names cleared. 'Those who were affected by Capture have suffered the longest of all. 'It is important to recognise that we await the Post Office's position on this matter, and whether it will offer any evidence against Mrs Owen's conviction being overturned, and then of course the Court of Appeal's decision itself. 'I was always struck by how Mrs Owen protested her innocence throughout, pointing the finger of blame at the system. 'Why compelling IT evidence was not used in court remains a mystery. 'However, this is a hugely positive step, and we hope this is the first of many cases to be referred for consideration.'
Sky News
18-07-2025
- Sky News
First Post Office Capture conviction referred to Court of Appeal
The first Post Office Capture conviction is to be sent to the Court of Appeal, Sky News understands, in a "breakthrough" moment in the IT scandal. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) has decided to refer the case of sub-postmistress Patricia Owen, who was convicted in 1998 of theft. Mrs Owen was found guilty by a jury based on evidence from the faulty IT software Capture, which was used in 2,500 branches between 1992 and 1999, before the Horizon Post Office scandal. It comes after Sky News revealed that a damning report into Capture, which could help overturn criminal convictions, had been unearthed after nearly 30 years. The decision to refer the first-ever Capture case to the Court of Appeal has been made on the grounds that Mrs Owen's prosecution was an "abuse of process". The development has been described by victims' lawyer Neil Hudgell as "hugely pivotal". "The Court of Appeal don't receive that many referrals that start at the CCRC, and most get turned away, so it's a very high bar to even get cases from the CCRC to the Court of Appeal…" "I think it will be a real shot in the arm to all the other Capture victims who are waiting for their cases to be determined by the CCRC." Mr Hudgell described the report found earlier this year - written by computer experts in 1998 and highly critical of Capture - as "significantly tipping the balance". Sky News found that the Post Office knew about the report at the time and continued to prosecute sub-postmasters based on Capture evidence. Pat Owen always maintained her innocence but died in 2003 with a criminal record before the wider Post Office scandal came to light. Her daughter Juliet Shardlow said she cried when she heard the news that her mother's case would be referred to the Court of Appeal. "I feel angry that she is not here because she died before her time… we will be there - we will be sitting there in that front row. "I can't put it into words because it's still all a shock that we are where we are and that later this year, or next year, we might have what we set out to get… justice for her." The CCRC is currently investigating 30 cases potentially related to the Capture software system. Twenty-seven of those cases are now assigned to case review managers and under "active review", with a further three cases in the preparatory stages. The CCRC has described a "challenge" over determining "whether cases involved the use of Capture at the time of the alleged offences". In a letter written to Liam Byrne, chair of the Business and Trade Committee, and seen by Sky News, it said that information the Post Office has provided "does not, in most cases, show whether it was installed and in operation at the time of the alleged offending". It also mentioned that the Post Office is reviewing "a significant amount of data which may contain further information".
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-boxer Tommy Coyle nominated for Hull's highest honour
A former boxer turned entrepreneur said he was "over the moon" to have been nominated for his home town's highest civic award. Tommy Coyle has been put forward to receive the Freedom of the City of Hull, along with solicitor Neil Hudgell. The 35-year-old became Commonwealth lightweight champion in 2018 and has since led a series of charitable initiatives including tackling child poverty and youth violence. He said: "I was blown away to be honest. At first I thought it was a joke and I was just really taken back. It's such a huge honour." The Freedom of the City is a way for Hull to acknowledge and celebrate those who have made a positive impact on the city and its Coyle said: "Regardless of the award, I'm still going to continue the things that I do and I still have my own mission that I want to achieve in Hull." The Coyle family fruit business has a stall in Hull City Centre. It has been running for more than 30 years and was originally set up by Chris Coyle, who passed away in said: "My dad would have deep down been really really proud of this and been down the market telling people our Thomas has been nominated for Freedom of the City. I think he'd have been happy." Mr Coyle set up a sporting foundation when he retired from boxing in 2019 and has led multiple initiatives for underprivileged children, including a mobile boxing gym and school uniform giveaways. Hull City Councillors Shane McMurray and Daren Hale nominated Mr Coyle and Mr Hudgell and said: "These nominations celebrate two individuals who represent the very best of Hull – commitment to community, achievement, and giving back."They described Mr Hudgell as "a leading solicitor, philanthropist, and lifelong champion for justice, sport, and regeneration in Hull."Mr Coyle said: "It feels great to be thought of in this nice way, I think to be recognised in the same sort of light as Neil Hudgell who I've looked up to for years." The nominations of Mr Coyle and Mr Hudgell will be discussed at a full meeting of Hull City Council later. 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. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former postmaster offers advice after compensation
A former sub-postmaster, whose life was "destroyed" in the Horizon computer scandal, has been offered just over half a million pounds in compensation thanks to "proper legal advice" Bob Stevenson, 81, from Gateshead, was initially offered compensation of £51,000 after losing his family home and business more than 20 years ago. He now stands to receive a settlement of more than £500,000. Mr Stevenson said all he ever wanted "was to make sure that my family was OK" and urged others affected by the scandal to seek professional help. "I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if you're still involved in it, you've got to go and get proper legal advice." Lawyers are seeking compensation for hundreds of former sub-postmasters who were caught up in the scandal, maintaining some cases have been "grossly undervalued" by the Post Office. "The benefit of doubt should be given to people that put forward credible accounts of what they've lost, rather than a forensic examination," said Mr Stevenson's lawyer, Neil Hudgell. He said almost all the cases his firm had seen had been "worryingly undervalued", with examples of compensation offers being increased from £4,400 to £133,700, or £17,700 to £253,900, after legal representations. It comes as the government is set to open a new appeals process – managed by the Department for Business and Trade - for people compensated through its Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS), with many sub-postmasters having concluded their cases and accepted settlements with no legal advice. More than 900 sub-postmasters were prosecuted for stealing because of incorrect information from the Horizon computer system. Many sub-postmasters went to prison for false accounting and theft, and many were financially ruined. It has been called the UK's most widespread miscarriage of justice. Mr Stevenson had just refurbished his shop, where both his wife, Carol, and his son worked. Profits were high. But the installation of the Horizon accounting system in 1999 changed everything. "We pressed the button - £800 down, the very first week it was installed - and that was happening two or three times a month. "I used to go home after work and go in the kitchen and cry looking at the bills," he remembers. "And it's in your contract: you repay the money. So you just kept repaying the money. "It was really hard. I just knew if we couldn't pay the bills - and just didn't - what was going to happen. "We lost everything." In 2002, when Mr Stevenson could no longer plug the financial holes left by the faulty IT system, he was suspended and made bankrupt. "We were in Sunderland Court for the bankruptcies - and then they just basically tell you you've got to get out," he said, describing losing his home. "Horrendous is the only word to describe it. You just feel as though you're a failure." "The retirement plan was to see the world. That was the plan. "Horizon destroyed our lives." After details of the scandal, which found the Horizon system had been incorrectly reporting losses in Post Office branches, were made public, Mr Stevenson and his family were offered compensation of £51,000. After seeking legal advice, they rejected the offer. They have since been offered more than half a million pounds. At 81, having acquired a new home, and with the final settlement impending, Mr Stevenson and his family have a chance to pick up where they left off 23 years ago. "Obviously my son will get it," he says, of the financial settlement. "That's why you feel such a failure - because you haven't done what I thought was my job, you know, to make sure that my family was OK. That's all I wanted." Why were hundreds of Post Office workers wrongly prosecuted? How do the Post Office compensation schemes work? How Post Office drama shone light on scandal
