POL00119142
POL00119142
POST OFFICE LTD CONFIDENTIAL: INVESTIGATION,
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POLTD/0809/0126
OFFENCE: Audit Shortage — Cash Loss £27,811. 98
Name: Julian WILSON
Rank: Sub-Postmaster Identification
Code: 1
Office: Astwood Bank SPOB FAD Code 346 / 246
Age: 59 Date of Birth:
Service: 5years 10 Date Service 07/11/2002
Months Commenced:
Personnel Printout: At Appendix: C
Nat Ins No:
Home Address:
Suspended/Contract for 11/09/2008 on the authority of Glen Chester
Services Suspended: Contracts Manager.
To be prosecuted by: Royal Mail Group (including Post Office Ltd)
Designated Dave Pardoe, Senior Security Manager Fraud
Prosecution Authority: I Strand
Discipline Manager: Glen Chester Contract & Services Manager.
Corporate Security Criminal Law Team
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POL00119142
POL00119142
POST OFFICE LTD CONFIDENTIAL: INVESTIGATION,
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This case concerns an audit shortage of £27,811.98 discovered at the
Astwood Bank Post Office on the 11° September 2008 by Mr David Patrick,
Mr Kevin Watkins & Mrs Faith Lavender Post Office Ltd Auditors.
On arrival at the Post Office they introduced themselves to the Postmaster Mr
Julian Wilson and explained that they were there to conduct an audit on behalf
of Post Office Ltd. Mr Wilson allowed them access to the secure area and
immediately informed them that there would be a shortage in the cash of
around £27,000. He explained to them that it was due to an accumulation of
shortages he had experienced at the Post Office over the last 5 years or so.
He explained he had been inflating the cash on hand figures to show that the
office accounts would balance weekly and more recently on the monthly
Trading Period.
Upon confirmation of the shortage by the auditor the Postmaster was advised
that he was precautionary suspended on the authority of Mr Glen Chester Post
Office Contracts Manager pending further investigation. I was also contacted
at this time and I asked the auditors to obtain a signed statement confirming
these facts from the Postmaster and an Event Log Balancing printout from the
Horizon Computer System that covered the period 1*t August 2008 to 11"
September 2008. A copy of the signed statement and Horizon printout can
now be found associated at Appendix “B”.
I spoke to Mr Wilson and informed him that I would need to conduct an
interview with him and explained to him his Legal Rights and the Post Office
Friend Rule. Mr Wilson advised me that he would be requiring both these
rights and he gave me the name and contact details of his Solicitor at Astwood
Law. He said he would also use his Post Office Federation Representative Mrs
Donna Evans as his Post Office Friend. It was at this point that I contacted a
Mr Graham Clarke and made arrangements for the interview to be conducted
at his offices of Astwood Law Solicitors on Monday 15" September 2008 at
14.30 hours.
I can now confirm that prior to the interview on the 11" September 2008, along
with my colleague Mr Graham Brander I attended the home address of Mr
Wilson at! - “land conducted a voluntary
search of both his premises and vehicle. I can confirm that three entries were
made on the Search Record of the items seized and these items have
subsequently now been copied with the originals now returned to Mr Wilson.
Copies of the Search Records can now be found associated at Appendix “B”.
The search commenced at 11.11 hours and concluded at 12.08 hours.
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The Post Office is located in a small urban area near Redditch, Birmingham.
Mr Wilson employed assistants at the Post Office and a copy of the
Postmaster and Assistant’s details held are now associated at Appendix “C”.
Following the completion of the searches Mr Brander and I later made our way
to Astwood Law Solicitors Offices. Prior to commencement of the interview I
gave a disclosure to Mr Wilson’s Legal Representative Mr Clarke. It was at
this stage that we became aware that Mr Clarke was not a Solicitor who
specialised in Criminal Law but Mr Wilson confirmed that he was aware of this
fact but still wished Mr Clarke to represent him.
Prior to the interview I explained to Mr Wilson how the tape machine worked
and why two tapes were used. At 15.07 hours, along with Mr Brander I
commenced a tape-recorded interview with Mr Wilson in accordance with the
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Codes of Practice. Following the
general introductions Mr Wilson was cautioned and I completed the GS001at
15.08 hours and a copy of this is now associated at Appendix “B”. The
GS003 Post Office Friend form was completed at 15.13 hours and a copy of
this is now associated at Appendix “C”.
The interview comprised of two tapes, reference no’s 50313 and 50314 and
concluded at 16.33 hours. I have now prepared a summary of these tapes,
copies of which can be found at pages 5 to 25 of this file.
The Master Tapes are secured at my office in Poole, whilst the working copies
are associated at Appendix “B”.
During the interview Mr Wilson did not admit to theft or misuse of the Post
Office money but did admit to False Accounting over the last 5 years due to
losses he had been experiencing. He denied he had used any of the money to
credit his bank account or pay his mortgage or to pay suppliers. He was
shown various Trading Statements available to me from 11" April 2007 to 20"
August 2008 and he confirmed that they all showed false cash figures. These
Trading Statements have been associated now at Appendix “B”. Mr Wilson
explained how this had been common practice for the past 5 years or so. He
was asked if he had considered theft by his employees given the fact it
appeared the shortages were a regular occurrence with no explanation or
corresponding errors ever appearing apparent. He said he had not believed
this to be the case.
The period of offending in this case could not be fully established other than
Mr Wilson admitted he thought it would have been over 5 years between 2003
and September 2008.
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POST OFFICE LTD CONFIDENTIAL: INVESTIGATION,
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Following the interview, I asked Mr Wilson a number of questions for the sole
purpose of completing NPA 01 and CS033 (Antecedents) forms. Copies of the
NPA 01 and CS033 forms can be found at Appendix C. A copy of my
notebook in respect of the interview on the 15" September 2008 can now be
found at Appendix “B”.
I do not envisage any difficulties in obtaining statements in this case, should
they subsequently be needed. Likewise, I have no reason to question the
reliability of any potential witness. All envisaged enquiries have now been
conducted in respect of this case.
A copy of the final Audit Report produced by Mr David Patrick is now
associated at Appendix “B”.
The loss known to Post Office Ltd is £27,811.98, and I can confirm that this full
amount is still outstanding at this stage.
I contacted Mr Ged Harbinson the Post Office Ltd Financial Investigation
Manager in respect of this case, due to the amount involved and the Financial
Investigator in this case is now Mr Graham Ward. Mr Wilson explained how he
would wish to repay the Post Office the full amount of money missing but was
not in a position to do so at that stage. He informed me he would be looking to
sell his business and he would then be in a position to repay the Post Office at
that point.
All original exhibits in this case are currently retained at my office in Poole.
Electronic copies of this report and the tape summaries have been sent to the
Post Office Ltd Casework Team along with the discipline report.
There did not appear to be any further failings in security, procedures or
product integrity that directly affect this case.
These papers are now forwarded to you for sight and advice on the sufficiency
of the evidence as to whether criminal charges should be brought against Mr
Wilson.
As this was a Stakeholder Notification case the appropriate form was e-mailed
at the outset and a copy is associated at Appendix”C”.
Please feel free to contact me should you require any further information or
clarification on any of the points raised in this report.
POST OFFICE LTD CONFIDENTIAL: INVESTIGATION, LEGAL
POL00119142
POL00119142
POST OFFICE LTD CONFIDENTIAL: INVESTIGATION,
LEGAL
Gary Thomas
Fraud Advisor...
i 2 December 2008
POST OFFICE LTD CONFIDENTIAL: INVESTIGATION, LEGAL