Lee Castleton Suing Post Office, Fujitsu Over Horizon Scandal

Lee Castleton, a former sub-postmaster, has initiated legal proceedings against the Post Office and Fujitsu, marking the first individual lawsuit related to the Horizon IT scandal. Castleton's legal troubles began in 2007 when the Post Office sued him for a £25,000 shortfall attributed to the faulty Horizon system, which he claims led to his bankruptcy after incurring £321,000 in legal costs. His lawyers argue that the judgment against him was obtained fraudulently, as the Post Office withheld evidence of the system's unreliability. Unlike other victims who have had their wrongful convictions overturned, Castleton seeks to have the civil judgment against him set aside. He has expressed a desire for justice and to be publicly vindicated, emphasizing that the legal action is not just for his sake but also to assist other victims. Despite having received an interim payment, Castleton has little faith in existing compensation schemes and is determined to have his case heard in court.