London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025

Post Office scandal: 'Why am I still fighting to clear my name?'

Post Office scandal: 'Why am I still fighting to clear my name?'

A former sub-postmaster who was convicted of embezzling money 16 years ago says the authorities are not moving quickly enough to clear people's names.

Rab Thomson's case is one of 11 in Scotland being reviewed as a potential miscarriage of justice.

Hundreds were wrongly accused of theft, fraud or false accounting due to the Post Office's faulty IT system Horizon.

The scandal has been described as "the most widespread miscarriage of justice in UK history".

The UK government said the Post Office was working with the courts to progress appeals as quickly as possible.

Rab Thomson took over Cambus Post Office in Clackmannanshire from his mum in the early 2000s, around the time the Post Office was rolling out its new Horizon system.

Mr Thomson, from Alva, said he reported shortfalls of around £60,000 to the Post Office in 2004. His branch was eventually audited and an alleged shortfall of around £5,700 was discovered.

The Post Office then pursued criminal proceedings.

Mr Thomson said he pleaded not guilty because he was innocent but changed his plea to guilty at the last minute on the advice of his lawyer in the hope of avoiding prison.

He was sentenced to 250 hours of community service.


'Horrendous' situation


He told BBC Scotland that was "the most embarrassing situation of my life" because he was in places where people knew him but didn't know why he was there. Word soon spread about his conviction.

Mr Thomson said the situation put huge pressure on his mother, Margaret, who wouldn't come out of her house because she was embarrassed.

"I went one day to see Mum and I found her dead," he said. "I blame myself to this day for losing my mum… she didn't want anything to go wrong with the family."

Rab Thomson's mother died before he had the chance to clear his name


He described the situation since then as "horrendous" and said he had tried to take his own life. He feels the authorities aren't moving quickly enough to quash convictions.

In recent years it has emerged the Post Office computer system Horizon was faulty and more than 700 people working in post offices across the UK were potentially wrongly convicted.

Rab Thomson is hoping to clear his name but while dozens of people in England have had their convictions quashed, those in Scotland are still waiting.

The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, which investigates miscarriages of justice, is urging potential victims to come forward. It is currently investigating 11 cases, including Mr Thomson's and is expecting to announce a decision on eight cases in November.


Distressing case


Mr Thomson's lawyer David Enright said the facts of his case could not be more distressing.

"His dear mother was devastated by Robert's conviction," he said. "She has now passed and will never know what the Post Office did to people like her son.

"It is high time that Robert and other Scottish sub-postmasters receive the vindication they deserve."

A public inquiry into the scandal is under way. It heard from some Scottish victims in Glasgow earlier this year.

The UK government has set up an interim compensation scheme but Mr Thomson is not eligible unless his name is cleared.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: "It is right that where a postmaster has been convicted, publicly funded compensation should only follow fair judicial process and once the courts quash convictions as a first step. The Post Office is working with the courts to progress appeals as quickly as possible."

A spokesperson for the Post Office said: "Ensuring full, fair and final compensation for all Horizon Scandal victims is a priority as we put right the wrongs of the past."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
×