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From: Paula Vennells{__
Sent:
To:
Ce:
Subject: Re: Mr Griffiths
Thanks Angela, that's really helpful. Some questions:
+ Have I read this correctly, that the amount short on trading was £54k and the amount stolen was £54k?
¢ I heard that there was a suicide note, is this true?
+ T possibly heard (but may be confusing with a previous case) that Martin had had some mental health issues?
+ Presumably the Police are looking into this?
* Who is the key PO contact with the Police?
+ Where is Hope Farm Rd?
+ How is Glenn Chester?
Sorry lots of questions and bound to be more. Let's keep in touch and keep this as the loop of people who are
copied in everything at this stage.
Paula
Sent from my iPad
On 12 Oct 2013, at 09:34, "Kevin Gilliland" <
Sorry just spotted a typo on the amount we held Mr Griffiths liable for from the robbery. I'll
correct this as soon as I find out. Mark/Ruth do you know?
Sent from my iPhone
Begin forwarded message:
From: Kevin Gillilan
Date: 12 October 2013 0!
To: Paula Vennells +”
Alwen Lyons
Sorry for the delay in getting the brief. Angela couldn't get a connection.
I will try to contact Glenn and the family today.
- Martin Griffiths was appointed on 05. 10.95 to Hope Farm Road post
office
- on 21.09.11 Mr Griffiths was precautionary suspended following audit
shortage of circa.£24k, £20k in debt which had been settled centrally
during the period March 2011 - August 2011.
- following the investigation the Contracts Advisor having considered
the facts and having taken Mr Griffiths previously good performance
into account decided to reinstate Mr Griffiths.
- Mr Griffiths was reinstated on 16th Nov 2011. Additional training
support was provided however Mr Griffiths continued to have
discrepancies and has reported circa £54k at Branch Trading
- Glenn Chester, Contracts Advisor and John Breeden his line manager
met with Mr Griffiths on 12.03.13 to discuss the situation and advise Mr
Griffiths that if the situation were to continue his continued position
would need to be considered.
- on 02.05.13 there was an armed robbery at Hope Farm Rd and
circa.£54k was stolen. Following investigation the Spmr was held
culpable for £74k (capped at 25% of remuneration) as he had breached
the security instructions in that he had left the counter access door and
safe door open
- he appealed against the decision and his appeal hearing took place on
19th Sept. As yet no decision has been communicated
- on 3rd July Mr Griffiths was given 3 months notice due to his
continued poor performance at the branch
- on 23rd Sept the Contacts advisor was advised by NBSC that Mr
Griffiths had been involved in a car accident. The Contracts Advisor
spoke to the Spmr's mother to ask how Mr Griffiths was.
- later that day we were advised by Alan Bates, JFSA that Mr Griffiths
had tried to take his life by walking in front of a bus.
- since this we have kept in regular contact with the Spmr's family and
offered any support they required
- we have appointed temporary Spmr to run the post office whilst the
family have been at the hospital
- we have continued to pay the Spmr in addition to the temp Spmr - Mr
Griffith's last day of service was due to be 3rd Oct however we
continued to pay him regardless
Kevin
Sent from my iPhone
On 11 Oct 2013, at 21:49, "Paula Vennells" ¢
wrote:
Hi both, just to let you know that I will brief the Board tomorrow am.
Mark/Ruth, important that if we get any coverage on Martin's death that
you text me please as well as email.
Additionally, Kevin is getting some facts together for me so that I have
whatever information is available to hand.
Thanks in advance, Paula
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Sent from my iPad
Begin forwarded message:
From: Paula Vennells ¢
Date: 11 October 2013 21:28:59 BST
gerd —
John M Scott
I Hugh Flemington
57 Ruth x
, Andy Holt
Angela, thank you for sending over this news. I am so so
sorry. Martin's family must be devastated.
I know (sadly from experience in business and personally)
that there is rarely a simple explanation for such deaths;
even though it is often easier for those so closely affected to
look for one.
Three requests: firstly if I can help in any way, that you or
the team dealing with it ask me. I would be happy to speak
to or to meet the family if we thought that would help.
Secondly, that we look after them as much as we can and as
they will allow; thirdly, that we look after Glenn: he will be
feeling very bad because he knew Martin and was the
person closest to him from the PO.
And then, we need to look to the business: to help me brief
this properly to the Board, can you let me know what
background we have on Martin and how/why this might
Also, if someone mentions the Post
Office in a potential suicide case, I would like to know what
the process is for looking into it: can John and/or Hugh
advise please?
Deeply sad.
As I write this, I see that Mark has asked similar questions.
We need a single senior manager a point person. Who is the
SLT line manager please? Angela if it is you, and/or you
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would like it to be, that is fine. but I am very aware that you
are in need of a break after a tough couple of weeks
anyway. Can Kevin advise asap.
Thank you to everyone - I know you will be feeling as bad
as I do over Martin's death.
Paula
Sent from my iPad
On 11 Oct 2013, at 2'
3, "Angela Van-Den-Bogerd"
wrote:
Paula,
Sadly Martin Griffiths passed away this afternoon.
Martin's sister notified Glenn Chester a short while
ago - the actual text is below in John's note below.
Glenn has since spoken to the sister - the tone of
the conversation was fine with no animosity
towards Glenn.
Angela
From: John Breeden
Sent: Friday, October 11, 2013 07:31 PM
To: Angela Van-Den-Bogerd
Cc: Glenn Chester
Subject: Mr Griffiths
Angela,
To confirm our conversation, Glenn has spoken to
Mr Griffiths sister to offer condolences following
the very sad news of Mr Griffiths having passed
away this afternoon.
Glenn received notification of Mr Griffiths death
by text earlier this evening from his sister Jane (I
think it was just before eight).
The text was worded — Sadly my brother Martin
passed away this afternoon after being in a coma
for 18 days. The family is devastated as such as
waste of life and feel the post office has ruined yet
another life. Thought you should know as you
liked my brother.
Regards
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John
John Breeden
Agents Contracts Deployment Manager
North
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<image003.png> Upper Floors, The Markets
Post Office, 6/16 New York
Street, Leeds LS2 7DZ
<image004.png> Mobex:
GRO
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