First Post Office Capture Conviction Referred Court of Appeal

The case of Patricia Owen, the first criminal conviction linked to the Post Office Capture IT system, has been referred to the Court of Appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) on grounds of abuse of process. Mrs. Owen was convicted in 1998 of theft based on evidence from the faulty Capture software, which preceded the notorious Horizon system and was used in thousands of branches. Despite her maintaining innocence and an independent IT report highlighting significant software errors, she was sentenced to a suspended prison term and died in 2003. The referral, supported by victims' lawyer Neil Hudgell, marks a significant breakthrough for those affected by the Capture system, which is under investigation in approximately 30 cases. Mrs. Owen’s family, particularly her daughter Juliet Shardlow, expressed relief and hope that the appeal will help clear her name and others similarly wronged. The Post Office has apologized for past failings and is committed to rectifying the injustices caused by these faulty IT systems.