Former Sub-Postmaster Sues Post Office, Fujitsu Over £4m Horizon Scandal

Lee Castleton, a former sub-postmaster from Yorkshire, is suing the Post Office and Fujitsu for over £4 million in damages related to the Horizon IT scandal, marking the first individual legal action of this kind with full claim details made public. Castleton's claim includes compensation for lost earnings, pension losses, reputational harm, mental distress, and bankruptcy caused by the Post Office's civil action against him for an alleged £25,000 shortfall, which he disputes was based on fraudulent evidence. Despite not being prosecuted criminally like many others, Castleton was pursued through civil courts, resulting in £321,000 in legal costs he could not pay, forcing him into bankruptcy. His legal team argues the Post Office knowingly pursued this action to set an example and discourage other claims, while Castleton seeks vindication and to overturn the original judgment. The scandal, described as the UK’s biggest miscarriage of justice, has affected more than 900 sub-postmasters wrongfully accused due to software errors, and Castleton, who was portrayed in an ITV drama and awarded an OBE for his campaigning, has chosen to take his claim to court rather than use government compensation schemes. The Post Office has stated it is engaging fully in the legal process but made no further comment on ongoing litigation.