A Post Office investigator who helped to wrongfully convict harmless postmasters has denied he and colleagues acted like “Mafia gangsters looking to collect their bounty”.
Stephen Bradshaw, who has labored for the organisation since 1978, was grilled by the general public Inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal after being concerned within the investigation of 9 Post Office employees. More than 900 employees have been convicted for theft and fraud between 1999 and 2015 after a flawed IT system made it seem like they have been swindling cash.
The Government was pressured to intervene to hurry up the method to exonerate harmless postmasters after an enormous public backlash within the wake of ITV drama ‘Mr Bates vs the Post Office‘. In a gruelling day of proof, Mr Bradshaw was confronted with claims of bullying and compelled to disclaim his workforce acted like “Mafia gangsters” in direction of victims.
Former subpostmistress Shazia Saddiq accused Mr Bradshaw of constructing “intimidating” telephone calls in extracts of proof learn to the Inquiry, together with one the place “he called me a b**** which I found extremely distressing”. Mr Bradshaw mentioned this was “completely untrue” and denied “hounding” her. He rejected claims he had behaved unprofessionally and denied there was a tradition of intimidation inside the Post Office investigation workforce.
Ms Saddiq, 40, ran three Post Office branches in Newcastle between 2009 and 2016 earlier than she was sacked. Speaking outdoors the Inquiry, she mentioned she fled together with her youngsters “like refugees in the night” after her group turned on her. “We had been assaulted with eggs and flour in Newcastle because they thought I was a thief,” she mentioned.
Mr Bradshaw was additionally accused of forcing a disabled postmistress to make use of a “tiny parcel lift” when she took half in a police-style interview in August 2010. Rita Threlfall, who managed a department in Liverpool, mentioned she was “still shaken” by the expertise, which left her with “crippling anxiety and depression” which “arises in large part from the way in which (Mr Bradshaw) treated her”. Mr Bradshaw replied: “I can only keep repeating that it is not a small parcel lift. It is wheelchair accessible.”
The Inquiry additionally heard that sub postmistresses Angela Sefton and Anne Nield have been “too terrified” to report a £34,000 shortfall that they could not clarify from their department in Liverpool. The ladies, whose convictions have been overturned in 2021, mentioned they have been left in tears when two auditors and two investigators together with Mr Bradshaw visited the department. He advised the Inquiry: “They didn’t seem that upset”.
Give Alan Bates a knighthood for exposing Post Office scandal
It is time for Alan Bates to be honoured with a knighthood or CBE after former Post Office boss Paula Vennells handed again her gong.
The former postmaster has led the decades-long struggle to show the Horizon IT scandal. He has turn out to be a nationwide treasure after hundreds of thousands watched his lengthy and painful struggle for justice portrayed within the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs the Post Office.
Usually honours are introduced to mark the New Year and the Monarch’s birthday, however in particular circumstances they may also be awarded at different instances.
So Rishi Sunak, give Alan Bates an honour now.
Sign our petition HERE to demand Alan Bates will get an honour.
Mr Bradshaw was advised his language in an interview seemed like a “1970s television detective show” by counsel to the inquiry Julian Blake. Mr Blake learn him an alternate with one other postmistress Jacqueline McDonald, the place he ranted: “You have told me a pack of lies.”
Ms McDonald was sentenced to 18 months in jail in 2011 for a shortfall of practically £100,000 however her conviction was overturned. In his witness assertion, Mr Bradshaw mentioned: “I refute the allegation that I am a liar. I also refute the claim that Jacqueline McDonald was bullied, from the moment we arrived, the auditor was already on site, conversations were initially (held) with Mr McDonald, the reason for our attendance was explained, Mr and Mrs McDonald were kept updated as the day progressed.”
The investigator added: “Ms Jacqueline McDonald is also incorrect in stating Post Office investigators behaved like Mafia gangsters looking to collect their bounty with the threats and lies.”
Christopher Jacobs, representing 156 postmasters, mentioned 49 of his purchasers have been advised “that they were the only one” with an issue with shortfalls, whereas 61 of them mentioned that they have been advised they may very well be prosecuted or go to jail. Asked if this was “typical” behaviour, Mr Bradshaw mentioned it “was completely” mistaken and he “categorically” didn’t inform individuals they have been the one one.
Mr Bradshaw advised the Inquiry he was not “technically minded” and mentioned he was not advised whether or not there have been faults within the Horizon IT system.
It comes as a petition to award marketing campaign hero Alan Bates a CBE for his decades-long struggle for justice racked up greater than 20,000 signatures. The chief executives of Post Office and Fujitsu are as a result of be questioned by MPs subsequent week as public anger over the scandal continues to mount.